Happy Birthday America


“The Constitution was made for the people and not the people for the Constitution.” -Theodore Roosevelt



The Bill of Rights were originally proposed to meet concerns from a number of Constitutional delegates that the Constitution, while effectively laying out the foundation of the US government, contained no guarantee of rights for its citizens. These were men who had just fought a revolution against a tyrannical government, and they felt that simply enumerating the powers of a government was no true protection against the rise of another tyrant. A compromise was reached which allowed the original Constitution to pass, with the understanding that amendments would be made immediately after passage. There were originally 12 amendments proposed, but only ten were approved by the three-fourths majority of state legislatures needed to amend the Constitution. Many of the protections Americans take for granted come from the Bill of Rights. Free speech, freedom of religion, the right to a trial by jury, requiring a warrant to search a private home and the right to bear arms are just a few of the more important rights guaranteed by these amendments. The first ten Amendments to the Constitution were passed in 1791 and are collectively known as the Bill of Rights.


1. The First Amendment grants freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, and the right to protest.

2. The Second Amendment grants the right to bear arms

3. The Third Amendment states that soldiers cannot take over a home during war or peace without the homeowner’s permission.

4. The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable and unlawful search and seizure of property.

5. The Fifth Amendment allows all citizens due process and states that a person cannot be forced to serve as a witness against himself when accused of a crime.

6. The Sixth Amendment provides a speedy and public trial by jury for all who are accused of a crime.

7. The Seventh Amendment also allows a trial by jury to be held for certain civil disputes.

8. The Eighth Amendment prevents those accused of suffering cruel and unusual punishment.

9. The Ninth Amendment states that no one’s Constitutional rights should be used to infringe upon the rights of another citizen.

10. The Tenth Amendment provides each state with powers that are not specifically assigned to the nation’s government in the Constitution.

And to End this Post an excerpt from a speech by Theodore Roosevelt.

Excerpt from the speech “Citizenship In A Republic”
download PDF of complete speech







I don’t know how I was so lucky to be born an American but I am eternally grateful. Here is one of my favorite videos by Kid Rock. Born Free.