3. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
TheBillofRightswaswritten
almostimmediatelyafterthe
Constitutionwasratifiedin1788.
Congressknewthatamendments
wouldneedtobeaddedtoprotect
thepeoples’rightsagainstthe
centralgovernment.
5. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Astimewentonandourcountry
changedduetogrowth,
additionalamendmentswere
neededforadditionalclarityand
tokeepupwiththeever
changingdynamic
9. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
In 1870,thefifteenth
amendmentwasadopted.
Theamendmentforbid
denyinganymantherightto
votebasedoncolor,race,and
previousservitude.
10. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
TheConstitutionwascreatedbyourfoundingfathers
tocreaterulesforthenewcountry.
TheBillofRightswasaddedtopreserveourrightsas
peopleintheUnitedStates.
Lateramendmentswereaddedasthecountrygrew
andtherolesofthegovernmentshifted.
TheThirteenth,Fourteenth,andFifteenth
amendmentswerecreatedwhenslaverywasabolished
andtheyweregiventherightstoequalrightsas
citizensandwiththat,theabilitytovote.
11. References:
LexisNexis(2018). Retrieved from
https://www.lexisnexis.com/constitution/amendments_howitsdone.asp
Primeaux, G. (2015). Why A Bill Of Rights And What Impact Does It
Have? . Retrieved from
http://www.primohistory.com/Why%20a%20Bill%20of%20Rights%20an
d%20What%20Impact%20Does%20it%20Have.pdf
USHistory, . (2018). The Bill of Rights.
Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/18a.asp
When Did Black Americans Get the Right to Vote(2018).
Retrieved from https://www.reference.com/history/did-blacks-right-
vote-34950a1d7a70f5e8#
Editor's Notes
After the Constitution was ratified in 1788, Congress knew there would be an immediate need of amendments added to protect the peoples rights. ("Us History Pre-Columbian To The New Millennium", 2018). James Madison also penned the Bill of Rights as he did the Constitution. He took on the responsibility of making sure that these amendments would not interfere with the new central government.
Later Amendments (11-27) have been added to the Bill of Rights because of growth and the changing roles of the government.
When immigrants settled in America, they brought their slaves with them and as slaves, they had no rights at all. In 1863, President Lincoln took the first steps to abolish slavery by ordering their freedom. The 1st Amendment in the Bill of Rights did not include Blacks because they were thought of as property and not people.
Shortly after the ratification of the 13th Amendment, Congress proposed the first Civil Rights Act of 1866. After it was signed, they realized that it could be challenged and found unconstitutional. The 14th Amendment was quickly added and was adopted.
Despite Blacks having equal rights and citizenship given to them with the fourteenth amendment in 1868, they still were not able to participate in voting.
In 1870 the fifteen amendment was adopted that legalized voting for any man despite their color, race or previous servitude. However, due to the “Jim Crow” laws that were put into place that segregated them from whites, they still were not able to vote due to disenfranchisement until 1966. ("Reference.com", 2018).
