American History

The primary reason why the founding fathers enacted the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights was for the benefit of the American people. After the revolution, they deem it best to put into writing the very foundations of independence and the rights which the people hold dear. The founding fathers believe that it is in the best interest of the country to have a law that will safeguard the rights and the liberties of the people against the control and abuse of the government and as such, the Bill of Rights was established.

The citizens of America are privileged because unlike others, they are given some freedoms that citizens from other countries only dream of having. The Declaration of Independence signed by Thomas Jefferson in 1976 included the Bill of Rights which is consists of ten Amendments. that gives the Americans the freedom that they are now experiencing (US History.org, 2010). The rights contained in the Constitution can be summed up into three rights, the right to life, liberty and property. There are many words and phrases that people use to describe the significance of the Bill of Rights in everyday living. Simply put, it is the very essence of the American independence. Without its enactment, the country will never be what it is now and the people would not feel as secure and protected as they are today. The Bill of Rights makes the Americans unique as compared to other nations. A brief reading of this law is enough to have a bitter-sweet taste of what the British rule did to the country. People cannot help but feel fear that another government might control and take away this precious freedom and as such, the founding fathers deem it best to place the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. It can be observed that the ten Amendments provide for the things over which the government cannot extend their powers on. This seems to be the best solution that the framers of the law then thought of because the Constitution itself does not afford protection from tyranny and dictatorial regime. The Bill of Rights was the missing ingredient for the creation of balance and harmony in the American society. As the founding fathers said, it was the best compromise because as stated in the Constitution, the power of the government emanates from the people and as such, it is impossible for the government to give freedom to these people. The enactment of this law is one of the best thing that ever happened in the history of the United States because it became a symbol of unity and strength (Ausley, 2003). No person can deny the fact that the people need these rights in order to continue living because the Bill of Rights continues to stand and protect the freedom of every single American. No government then and no government now places such premium on the rights of its people other than the American government and I take pride in that.

I am of the view that every single one of the provisions of the Bill of Rights is indispensable. America will never be the same if one of these Amendments were excluded. However, if I have to choose one that means much to me than the rest, I would have to choose the First Amendment. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that the Congress shall not make any law respecting an establishment of religion or one which prohibits the free exercise thereof or one which abridges the freedom of speech and the press and the right of the people to peaceably assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances (Find Law, 2010).

I consider the right of the people to free speech as the most valuable and sought after rights that Americans have because this right gives the people the liberty to say what is in their minds and express their view about different matters. In the same way, I also think that religion holds people together. This is where most individuals get their guidance and support and if its exercise will be taken away or forbidden, it would put the country in peril. Faith in God or in a higher being dictates the moral fiber of the society. A quick review of history will enable people to see that the First Amendment right has been questioned a number of times however, it can also be seen that there are plenty of good results that arose from the exercise of this right. Americans are fond of organizing rallies and protest to air their views and express their sentiments. Furthermore, many cases have reached the highest court of the land because the people know how to fight for this right. The artistic expression of the people has and always will be the subject of attack because there are some people who want to impose their moral beliefs on others.

The history is a witness to how the United States has been struggling for the preservation of the freedom protected by the First Amendment and it has been and will continuously be challenged but the important thing that everybody must instill in their minds is that the peoples right to the freedom of religion, speech and expression has been and always will be resolved in favor of those who express their beliefs and ideals for the enhancement of the essence of liberty. I am very grateful to the First Amendment because it has given a simple citizen like me, a fair chance to voice out my ideals.