Bill Of Rights Dbq Essay

Rights is the power or privilege granted to people either by an argument among themselves or by law. Major events that occurred throughout history enabled Americans to obtain wanted rights and freedoms and set up a baseline for the formation of the United States. These gained freedoms and rights promoted life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for Americans. Events such as the American Revolution, the creation of the Bill of Rights, the Age of Expansionism, and the Civil War enabled a positive change in rights and freedoms for Americans.

Rights were positively changed during the American Revolution the spread of ideas and the solidification of rights and freedom from Britain by the Declaration of Independence. John Locke, and enlightenment

The monarchy in Great Britain prohibited the right to alter the way they were governed. The idea to initiate the right to establish a new leader if trouble erupts, shows an advance to a positive change in rights. These proposals influenced American ideas to be able to implement a new government in order to create less controversy among the people and make the government run as a democracy. In 1776, the United States issued the Declaration of Independence, which declared independence and freedom from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence stated “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… it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government” (Document 5). Rights were positively changed for Americans by the Declaration of Independence because it guaranteed and solidified the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In addition, the Declaration allowed them to gain independence from Great Britain, which enabled them to implement a

The Bill of Rights was written in 1791 and was created by James Madison and guaranteed specific rights, freedoms, limitations for the states, the people, and the government. Rights and freedoms presented in the Bill of Rights are “Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and petition; Right to a speedy trial; Right to a trial by jury; Other powers remain with the people” (Document 8). The Bill of Rights showed a positive change in rights for Americans because it granted rights and freedoms, which set up a guideline for the United States. These rights spread more equality between the government and the people. Americans gained wanted rights that were not solidified prior to the Bill of Rights and . The Age of Expansion was a period of time where America expanded their land and property westward. James Polk, the president of the United States, believed that “...by all constitutional means the right of the United States to that portion of our territory which lies between the Rocky Mountains” (Document 4). Polk’s opinion about expansion (manifest destiny) shows the given right to gain land and expand westward, which can create good for Americans and the country. Also, it gave Americans the right to find a new life for themselves by moving to different land which promotes the guaranteed right to life and