1. Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Amendment process shows the flexibility of the Constitution as a “living document”
Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Page 6-8 in your review packet!

2. Declaration of Independence = U.S. Constitution
Explain differences between the Declaration of Independence & the U.S. Constitution

3. The primary purpose of the United States Declaration of Independence is to
establish the basic law of the land in the United States
explain and justify why the American colonists revolted against their mother country
provide a clear plan for a meaningful and effective political system
guarantee human rights for all Americans
The basic principle underlying the U.S. Constitution is that
the executive branch should be free of congressional interference
the people are the ultimate source of all power
governments must maintain law and order by whatever means necessary
the interests of the federal government are more important that the interests of its citizens

4. 1st Amendment
(1791)
Topic: Freedom of religion, speech, press, right to assemble & petition the gov.
Importance:
Enlightenment idea (Voltaire)
Protects & guides what an American can say/do
Interpreted by the Supreme Court
Example: Schenck v. United States; Tinker v. Des Moines
2nd Amendment
(1791)
Topic: Protects the right to possess firearms
Importance:
Debated due to gun violence & mass shootings

5. Topic: abolishes slavery Importance:
5th Amendment
(1791)
Topic:
protection against self- incrimination & double jeopardy
guarantees due process of law
Importance:
Rights of the accused
Supreme Court Cases:
Miranda v. Arizona
13th Amendment
(1865)
Topic: abolishes slavery
Importance:
Legally ended slavery, but Black Codes and Jim Crow laws segregate (separate)
Racism & prejudice continue

6. States cannot get in the way of individual rights Supreme Court Cases:
14th Amendment
(1868)
Topic:
defines citizenship
prohibits states from denying people due process and equal protection of the law
Importance:
States cannot get in the way of individual rights
Supreme Court Cases:
Roe v. Wade
15th Amendment
(1870)
Topic: Grants voting rights to African American men
Importance:
MEN get the right to vote, but not women until 1920
States deny voting rights by poll taxes & literacy tests
Primary goal of the Civil Rights Movement of 50s & 60s

7. 18th Amendment
(1919)
Topic: Prohibition = prohibits the manufacturing, sale or transportation of alcoholic beverages
Importance:
Temperance movement (social problems caused by alcohol) → Progressive Era reform
Social issue regulated by the gov.
21st Amendment
(1933)
Topic: repeals Prohibition
Importance:
Social laws are too difficult to enforce (1920s)
Only Amendment to repeal an earlier Amendment
Gov. collects taxes

8. 19th Amendment
(1920)
Topic: grants women the right to vote
Importance:
Goal of the first women’s movement achieved!
Seneca Falls & Declaration of Sentiments (1848)
Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony
22nd Amendment
(1951)
Topic: limits the President to two (2) terms
Importance:
Washington’s precedent becomes a part of the unwritten constitution
FDR elected to 4 terms → Amendment passed in response
Positives & negatives?

9. Describe how voting rights have changed since the U. S
Describe how voting rights have changed since the U.S. Constitution was written
26th Amendment
(1971)
Topic: lowers voting age to 18
Importance:
“Old enough to fight, old enough to vote”
Youth involvement
Vietnam draft & protests
Last extension of voting rights

10. Outline this thematic prompt on page 8
STRIVE FOR FIVE (5) = Include at least 5 bullet points per box