_The Script from An Eagle and the Hexagon
A Brief History of the Time
Keep one eye open for fundamental abuse of the people by the powerful!
_On
November 20, 1789, New Jersey became the first state in the newly
formed Union to ratify the first ten amendments. Other states followers
to ratify, with Virginia the last.
Once Upon a time in America, on July 4th, 1776, a great celebration took place with fireworks and cannon shots! It was the day that a Declaration of Independence was made by the colonists proclaiming their right to be a ere nation. The colonists announced a plan to fight for that freedom against the foreign armies and the injustices of rule by one person ~ a king ~ King of England, George III. It was the same day Betsy Ross presented her hand made American flag ~ the first! It was the same day that General George Washington requested that an official design be developed as a logo for the new nation. The design would be cast into a die to press into wax sealing an official document. It was anticipated that the die would be needed to affix and seal a treaty after winning the war with British troops and King George. The treaty would be the one with Britain issued by the United States of America~ a free nation at liberty to create their own system of government. John Adams, and Ben Franklin were busy with travels to England, France, and the Netherlands, building trust in the soon to be free nation. The revolution started ~ and a bloody was fought. After winning the battles against the British troops, the free nation was without a governing body and creed within which to organize their ideas and to structure a new system of government. The states had already begun to write the concepts for a way of life that would be fair to each person.There was unrest about the what, when, and who would be included. What words would express love, brotherhood, and justice? How would equality ~ with rights and opportunities for each person, and each state, be protected and assured? Would all persons ~ each ~ have the same rights? The Society of Friends, a religious group of decent folks, debated issues on behalf of the slaves, and that slavery ` had to go. There were wealthy and powerful debaters who wanted to keep these people under a separate system of indenture under one master. This would be unacceptable. Many who had fought so fearlessly in wars past ~ wanted justice to be done by inclusion as equal participants in their country. A free person understands that another’s will ~ uncertain and unknown, can not be forced upon him/her. Would women have the same rights as men? The Continental Congress worked on a document~ the Articles of Confederation ~ that began a process of critical thinking about the nature of a central government. The Framers certainly wanted to avoid the tyranny of a single person as ruler and would work to form a document that defined the responsibilities of three parts of the central power: an Executive branch, a Judicial branch, and a Legislative branch that would be accountable directly to the people. Would the values in their hearts, forged solid in the war, be secure for their children? Just who would partake of the rights and freedoms of the new nation? Ask Abigail Adams. The declarative words, written and proclaimed by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, gave promise to a way of living that was fair and accepting of all persons. “ ... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed ... ” Jefferson had 200 slaves who built and maintained his dream house Monticello ~ evidently ~ he didn’t practice what he wrote! |
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The people were uplifted by the words in the Declaration. Even still, not all the thirteen representatives from the thirteen states of America signed the Declaration ~ not all agreed to signing nor approved of this powerful statement re;easing the union of states form the powers of Britain. In 1787, the Constitution was developed in committee, and again,Jefferson offered his great talent to write the fundamental philosophy of American democracy. Finally, after more meetings, the Constitution was ratified, with the understanding that amendments were needed. (There were no women in Congress until 1932 Hattie Ophelia Wyatt Caraway.) The Federal Government should not use powers that are not enumerated in the Constitution. Any powers neither delegated to the Federal Government nor specifically prohibited to the states by the Constitution should be held in reserve for the people. There must be freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble, freedom to petition representatives, and to have a fair and speedy trial. A person must be able to speak his/her mind about anything without violence ~ or nasty language. A person should be able to hold meetings, form and in associations, to meet and discuss what problems a person may have ~ in a peaceful manner. A person should be able to contact their state representatives and ask them to work for the passage ~ or removal of laws. A state must have the right to have its own militia. A person must be able to keep weapons to resist any harm. A soldier should not be permitted to stay in a person’s home. Persons have certain rights to manage their own bodies within the law. The Supreme Court should be able to review laws passed by the legislatures to decide whether or not the law is constitutional or unconstitutional. A person should not have to help to incriminate him/herself ~ and should be protected from the excess of law enforcement organizations. A person should have the right to be informed of the nature and cause of accusations against him/her. A person should be entitled to a hearing before a jury. A person when accused of a crime should legal procedures before, and after ± a trial by a jury of peers. A person should be guaranteed the right to have a trial by jury in a civil court to settle cases. Bails, fines, and punishments should not be unreasonable. The Federal Government should respect all of a person’s legal rights instead of just some ~ and must not deprive a person of life, liberty, or property. Rights listed in the Constitution should not mean that other rights are denied a person. A person should be allowed privacy and freedom as to association, education, employment, housing,income, and medical care. The beat of debate went on! There would be a solution! George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights was used as a model for the additions by James Madison, House of Representatives, VA. Ten of the twelve amendments presented to the First Congress of the United States became law in 1791. The document is known as The Bill of Rights. Since then, more amendments have been ratified by Congress — twenty-seven in all. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and The Bill or Rights rest at the National Archives and Records Administration, Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC. NOTE: The running "history" was added after the pixallusions were placed and written so that the words fit on each the page. |