James Madison (father of the constitution) wrote the bill of right that would be added to the constitution once the Anti-federalists supported ratification.
The bill of right was written by James Madison and the bill lists certain things that the government won’t have power over. Several states called for this amendment in other to cut down government powers and allow freedom for the citizen.
In the first amendment, the founders recognized that individual should have the right to worship freely. Therefore, it remains illegal and unconstitutional for the congress to make laws establishing religion and limiting freedom of speech.
However, in the fourth amendment, the government does not have any power to search citizen’s homes without obtaining a valid search warrant.
Virginia declaration of right written by Gorge mason greatly influenced the Bill of rights. English document including the English bill of right, the Massachusetts body of liberties, the petition of right were among other precursors that influenced the bill of right.
The controversial points between the federalists, who supported a powerful federal government and the Anti-federalists, who advocated that power should remain in the state and local government was the bill of right that would prevent the government from exercising its powers on certain things.
Although, the federalists were not in support of the bill of rights, they argued that the bill of right would create a barrier that would limit the right of the people instead of protecting them, but the Anti-federalists pushed for the bill of rights. They argued that such bill will protect and safeguard the right of the citizens.
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KEYWORDS:
- anti-federalists
- federalists
- bill of rights
- james madison
