In 1791, the Bill of Rights, consisting of 10 amendments, was ratified into the constitution. ... Considered necessary by many at the time of its development, the Bill of Rights became the cause for a huge debate between two different factions: The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The Federalists were those who thought that there should be a new Union created with a strong centralized government and individual regional governments. ... The Anti-Federalists "whose memory of British oppression was still fresh in their minds "wanted certain rights and guarantees that were to be apa...

• Word Count: 1521
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Madison, later a congressman, drafted a bill of rights, drawing heavily upon the Virginia Declaration of Rights that was the work primarily of anti-federalist George Mason. ... The Act was enforced against Republican papers in an effort to keep Jefferson's party from defeating the federalists in the 1800 election. ... "Judges who are hostile to the often philosophical basis of the right of free speech and to the values that right promotes, could at any time shift the First Amendment doctrine back to the days when speaking out against the draft could land one in jail for 10 yrs" (Ostrows...

• Word Count: 1987
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The "separation between church and state" has been an ongoing debate for a long time in American history. What is meant by this, is that government should stay out of the church's business. Religion has been a part of America for some time now and continues to be now. The first amendment, also know...

• Word Count: 2044
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate