Civil
Rights are the rights and privileges to which we are entitled under the
laws that govern our nation. After the American Constitution was adopted, some
states were concerned that it didn't spell out specific rights to which the new
nation's citizens would be entitled. James Madison didn't think a Bill of Rights
was necessary, but to keep the states from demanding another Constitutional Convention,
he suggested including a bill of rights to amend the Constitution. He helped draft
ten Amendments that would come to be known as the Bill of Rights. On December
15, 1791 these Amendments were ratified by three quarters of the states.
In
1941, to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of
Rights, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed December 15 should be observed
as Bill of Rights Day, with appropriate ceremonies to celebrate the civil rights
guaranteed to all citizens by the Bill of Rights.
The
Bill of Rights addresses: 1) Freedom of assembly, press, religion and speech,
2) Right to keep and bear arms 3) Rights regarding the housing of soldiers 4)
Regulation against unreasonable search and seizure 5) The right to due process
and protection against self incrimination 6) Right of trial by jury with public
defense if needed 7) right of jury trial in common law 8) Protection against excessive
bail, and unusual punishment 9) Nothing in the Constitution can deny the rights
of others 10) Granting power to states or to the people for issues not covered
in the Constitution.
Bill
of Rights Day is an opportunity to honor those who worked to help create an America
where all Americans' civil rights are protected and to stand up for the continuing
protection of our civil rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
