The Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights + Declaration of Sentiments

The Declaration was written to declare indepence from Great Britain and King George III.
The Bill of Rights were added to Constitution to protect citizens from the government getting to much power.
Both aim to protect the basic human rights, whether that be life, liberty, and of the pursuit of happiness or protection from government overpowerment.
The grievances listed are aimed at King George and his unfair ruling. Grievances include the shutting down of colonial governments and the stopping of settlement expansion. The big problem for the colonists was taxation without representation.
1. One griecance states that King George forced the colonists to quarter the British Troops.
  1. Another grievance states that King George refused the right to a trial by jury in several cases.
    1. King George put the power of the military over the power of the people.
This was written by the "Committee of Five" in 1776.
"All men are created equal" meant that all men were "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This only referred to white patriotic men. The British government could no longer assured the colonists that they would receive these basic human rights.
1. Today, this phrase has a different interpretation. People view this statement as incorrect due to inequality of women. People now take this personally, and bring up how women are not treated as equal human beings.
2. At the time, this would encourage the colonists and get them to fight for independence. This would get them to fight in hopes of a reward for freedom and rights.
3. Both of the Declarations pointed out several things wrong with their oppressors, whether it be men or King George III. The Bill of rights fixed the issues pointed out in the Declaration of Independence, just like the resolutions did for the Sentiments.
This was written by James Madison in 1791.
The Bill of Rights lays down ten laws that ensures that citizens keep their rights and protects them from the national government. This section of the constitution lays down several amendments that protect rights and gives people freedom.
1. The Third Amendment states that no citizen will be forced to house troops during time of peace or war.
  1. The Sixth Amendment states that "in criminal prosecutions" citizens have the right to a trail by jury.
    1. The Second Amendment stated the that military would be there to protect the people and everyone had the right to bare arms.
The Declaration of Sentiments came a while after the other two documents. Elizabeth Cady Stanton drafted this in 1848.
1. The purpose of the Sentiments was to lay down grievances against men that treated women unfairly and unequally. The women expected to receive ridicule and misunderstandings. That would not stop them. Women continued to push for rights by getting petitions and using the press.
  1. "He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise." This is a grievance that states that women had no voting rights. A resolution later states that women should now have the right to have a say in her government. A grievance to King George stated that the colonies were not represented in Parliament and could not vote.
    1. The 19th Amendment would later give women the constitutional right to vote.
    2. Women wanted the same thing men wanted when declaring independence: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Both are stated in each declaration.

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The Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights + Declaration of Sentiments

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	Created by Savannah Frickey over 6 years ago