Articles Of Confederation And The Constitution Dbq

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During 1787, there was major controversy over the Articles of Confederation. To fix the controversy, the founding fathers of America came up with the Constitution to help resolve the issues. The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788; it provided a new central government, laws, and certain basic rights for the American people. Many of the ideas in the Constitution were influenced by French Enlightenment thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and John Locke. Thomas Hobbes influenced the American Constitution in many ways. He wrote the Social contract, which provided one of the basis’ for America’s government. Thomas Hobbes was alive during the English Civil War, and was against the theory, the Divine Rights of Kings. The …show more content…

He based his beliefs off of the ideas that all men are created good-natured, but society corrupts them. Unlike some other French Enlightenment thinkers, Rousseau believed that the Social contract was not a willing agreement. He also said that no man should be forced to give up their natural rights to a ruler. He came up with the solution that people should “give up” their natural rights to the community for the public’s good. He believed in a democratic government. He stated that the government would protect the people’s life, liberty, and property as long as they followed the laws that were put in place by the government. When the founding fathers came up with the Constitution, they came up with the Bill of rights; it is a series of amendments that protected the peoples’ rights. The most known amendments in the Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments. In the Bill of Rights, Amendment one says that people have freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly. Amendment two says that people have the right to bear arms. Amendment three says that quartering of soldiers is prohibited. Amendment four says that it is legal for the law to issue search and seizures without a warrant. Amendment five states that a person cannot be put in jail until they are trialed by jury. Amendment six states that people have the right to a speedy trial. Amendment seven states that