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The Bill of Rights vs Constitutional Amendments vs Ten Commandments
The Bill of Rights are the first ten of the current 27 amendments to the US Constitution.
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There were originally supposed to be 12 but two didn’t pass.
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Written by James Madison because in order for the Constitution to be ratified many in Congress felt that it needed to protect the basic principals of human liberty. It was agreed that a Bill of Rights would be drafted and added as amendments.
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
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No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
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The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
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No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
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In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
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In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
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Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
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The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
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The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
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Eleventh Amendment (1795): Clarifies judicial power over foreign nationals, and limits ability of citizens to sue states in federal courts and under federal law.
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Twelfth Amendment (1804): Changes the method of presidential elections so that members of the Electoral College cast separate ballots for president and vice president.
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Thirteenth Amendment (1865): Abolishes slavery and authorizes Congress to enforce abolition.
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Fourteenth Amendment (1868): Defines a set of guarantees for United States citizenship; prohibits states from abridging citizens’ privileges or immunities and rights to due process and the equal protection of the law; repeals the Three-fifths compromise; prohibits repudiation of the federal debt caused by the Civil War.
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Fifteenth Amendment (1870): Forbids the federal government and the states from using a citizen’s race, color, or previous status as a slave as a qualification for voting.
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Sixteenth Amendment (1913): Authorizes unapportioned federal taxes on income.
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Seventeenth Amendment (1913): Establishes direct election of senators.
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Eighteenth Amendment (1919): Prohibited the manufacturing, importing, and exporting of alcoholic beverages (see Prohibition in the United States). Repealed by the Twenty-First Amendment.
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Nineteenth Amendment (1920): Prohibits the federal government and the states from forbidding any citizen to vote due to their sex.
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Twentieth Amendment (1933): Changes details of Congressional and presidential terms and of presidential succession.
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Twenty-first Amendment (1933): Repeals Eighteenth Amendment. Permits states to prohibit the importation of alcoholic beverages.
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Twenty-second Amendment (1951): Limits president to two terms.
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Twenty-third Amendment (1961): Grants presidential electors to the District of Columbia.
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Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964): Prohibits the federal government and the states from requiring the payment of a tax as a qualification for voting for federal officials.
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Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967): Changes details of presidential succession, provides for temporary removal of president, and provides for replacement of the vice president.
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Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971): Prohibits the federal government and the states from forbidding any citizen of age 18 or greater to vote on account of their age.
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Twenty-seventh Amendment (1992): Limits congressional pay raises.
The Ten Commandments are found in the Old Testament of the Bible:
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Exodus 20: 2-17 and Deuteronomy 5: 6-21
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It is widely believed by Christian and Jewish faiths that these are the laws of God given to Moses. -Thus, they are what God is “commanding” of his people.
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There is some question or disagreement as to the numbering of the commandments. Wikipedia has an excellent table showing this. I am going to list them in the Jewish tradition:
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I am the Lord your God.
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You shall have no other gods before me, you shall not make for yourself an idol.
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You shall not make wrongful use of the name of your God.
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Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
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Honor you father and mother.
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You shall not murder.
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You shall not commit adultery.
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You shall not steal.
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You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
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You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
The Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendments only apply to American citizens, whereas, the ten commandments are for all who follow God.
Declaration of Independence vs US Constitution vs Bill of Rights
People seem to to have trouble understanding each of these three vital documents in American History. I’m going to explain each one and hopefully eradicate some confusion.
The United States Declaration of Independence- it was written from June-July 1776. It was ratified “made official” on July 4, 1776.
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The Colonies and Great Britain had already been at war for over a year. The Declaration of Independence was not the cause of the war.
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The name pretty much says it- it was a declaration of independence from the King.
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This was a letter from the colonies to the King telling him that they were no longer going to consider themselves his subjects and were forming their own country.
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Basic parts of the text:
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The Preamble ( not the “We the People” one)- “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them to one another…”
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The second part is often known as the “right of revolution”. They set out the rights that they believe are universal and that the King has been violating. “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
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The third part is basically a list of everything they are charging the King with doing. All the reasons they are revolting.
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The final section is more or less a summary. They explain that there are circumstances that give people the right to change their government and how they feel these circumstances have come to pass.
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The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 delegates, known as the Continental Congress. Including the famous “John Hancock” signature.
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Think of it more as a one page letter.
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Signing this document was not to be taken lightly, these men were committing treason which was punishable by hanging.
The United States Constitution- was written September 7, 1787. Ratified June 21, 1788.
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The American Revolution ended in 1783. It was time to sit down and outline a set up for the government. Which they did with the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union but they felt they needed to make a few adjustments to the Articles which lead to the drafting of a new Constitution. (That’s the quick, watered down version.)
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The Constitution consists of the Preamble; “We the People…”, seven original articles and 27 amendments.
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The seven articles are:
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Legislative Power
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Executive Power
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Judicial Power
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States’ powers and limitations
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Amendments
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Federal Power
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Ratification
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Our entire system of government is laid out in the Constitution.
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Unlike the one page letter of the Declaration of Independence think of the Constitution as a more complex and lengthy instruction booklet.
The Bill of Rights- The Bill of Rights are actually just the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. They were written in 1789 and ratified on Dec 15, 1791.
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There were originally supposed to be 12 but two didn’t pass.
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Written by James Madison because in order for the Constitution to be ratified many in Congress felt that it needed to protect the basic principals of human liberty. It was agreed that a Bill of Rights would be drafted and added as amendments.
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
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No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
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The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
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No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
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In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
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In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
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Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
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The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
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The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
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While there are 27 amendments to the US Constitution today only the first 10 are called the “Bill of Rights”.
civil war vs revolution
So as not to make this impossibly loaded down with information I’m going to attempt to make the difference between a civil war and a revolution easier to understand and may therefore, not include every minute detail.
Basically, a revolution brings about a sweeping change in power or organization in a short period of time. A revolution can be peaceful and does not necessarily require a war but not often.
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Consider the French Revolution- they killed their King and most all other nobility. The entire system of government changed from an absolute monarchy. You can’t get any more “sweeping” than that.
A civil war is between two organized groups that belong to the same nation, or two separate nations that started as one but was divided. Without resulting in a major change.
Consider the American Revolution vs the American Civil War.
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American Revolution- started as a civil war. The colonies were part of the nation of Great Britain. There was a war between the two organized parties (Colonies and the King). The war resulted with America having a new government. While the King didn’t lose power in the rest of Great Britain he did lose all control over the newly formed USA. – If it had gone the other way and had no such result it would have only been a civil war.
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American Civil War-started as one nation which divided into two; “Confederate States of America” and the “United States of America” war ensued. This was not a revolution because the result was that the Confederate states returned to its previous position as a part of the USA.- Had the result have been that the Confederation State of America remained its own nation with its own new government; then it would have been a revolution.
It’s important to remember that a revolution doesn’t have to involve a war. Any sweeping change in power is all that is needed.
It is not until the result is able to be fully viewed that one can tell a civil war from a revolution. There are civil wars occurring today that may end up as a revolution but we have to wait to see the final result.
The British are Coming? What?
Most American schoolchildren hear the tale of Paul Revere’s famous “Midnight Ride”. Sadly, most of the story it not completely accurate.
The ride began at 11 pm not midnight but that is really a minor detail.
First, Paul Revere was not the only brave soul to put his life on the line that night. William Dawes and Revere were both sent out from Boston to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the advancement of the King’s troops and their impending arrests. They were sent two different paths to ensure at least one would be successful. Both arrived in Lexington (Dawes about 30 minutes after Revere but Dawes was sent the long way around.) Along the way as the message spread at least 40, possibly more, other riders also set off with the alert as Revere and Dawes reached them. Some of these brave men were caught but none ever get the well deserved credit for their important part.
Second, the ride didn’t really end in Lexington. Revere and Dawes decided after reaching Hancock and Adams to attempt to ride on to Concord. They had accomplished their goal but still amazingly decided to take the great risk to go on. At this point, a young physician, Samuel Prescott joined them. Unfortunately, the three men were detained at Lincoln, on the way to Concord. Prescott and Dawes escaped but Revere was walked back to Lexington at gunpoint before finally escaping as well.
Third, neither Paul Revere nor William Dawes would have been yelling, “the British are coming.” Two reasons why this is true. For one, they weren’t yelling at all. This was a very dangerous and secret mission. They could have easily been killed for what they were doing if caught. They did pass on the message but not by running through the streets screaming. The other is, at the time the colonists very much considered themselves Britons. They were still legally under British rule. While they were not happy with many of the King’s policies they had yet to conclude the need to form an independent union. Instead, according to accounts, he actually, quietly told the others that, “The regulars are coming.” in reference to the British “regular” soldiers.
People often mistakenly assume that during the colonial period everyone was just itching to break free from Great Britain but this simply wasn’t always the case.
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Paul Revere & William Dawes rode on April 18, 1775.
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It wasn’t until 1776 that all 13 states agreed to write The Declaration of Independence and become it’s own nation.
While there are a few inconsistencies in the true story of Paul Revere and William Dawes the important thing is what they and so many others did. They stood up against tyranny willing to lose everything they had including their lives. By doing so, they have provided future American’s unprecedented freedom. For that reason, I believe it is important to know what really happened and is why I set the record straight.
Benjamin Franklin: America’s Crazy Uncle
There is no doubt that Benjamin Franklin is one of America’s treasures. He was a founding father who loved this country, everything that it was and everything that it could be. He was willing to give over his entire life to make sure that the infant nation became the strongest and most free in all the world. He also loved the drink and the ladies and at times seemed a bit off in the head. We love him anyway. Benjamin Franklin has always walked the thin line between amazing genius and lucky crackpot.
Forget the wacky tabacky and Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” if you really want to blow your mind read his autobiography. The man will astonish, confuse, embarrass and confound you all at once.
His accomplishments are unbelievable and overwhelming:
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US Minister to France during the Revolution. He secured an alliance with France which was crucial to winning the war and allowing the country a chance to even exist.
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Drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence
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Signed the Constitution of the United Sates
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Invented bifocals
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US Minister to Sweden
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First US Postmaster General
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Invented the lightning rod
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Invented the Odometer
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Formed the first public lending library in the US
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Founded the first fire department
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Abolitionist
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Writer- Poor Richard’s Almanack
There is so much more. He did not however, discover electricity. He did prove that lightning was electrical but not likely with the kite and key experiment as believed. Franklin also refused to have any of his inventions patented because he believed that it was important for scientists to be able to work off of each other’s ideas.
Franklin was not a Christian but was a self described Deist. Believing that “God’s truth can be found entirely through nature and reason.”
He is believed to have suffered from syphilis and publicly acknowledged an illegitimate son named William who was a loyalist that later settled in England for fear of execution. Franklin was one of the most outspoken supporters of the execution of Loyalists after the war.
In his autobiography he spelled out his 13 Virtues but insisted that you need only focus on one at a time and “leave all others to ordinary chance.”
He is also known for the following sayings:
“Beware the young doctor and the old barber.”
“Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.”
“Fish and visitors smell in three days.”
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Benjamin Franklin has to be one of the most influential American’s ever. It’s sad that while Christopher Columbus (a man who never set foot on this continent) is given a National Holiday a man who has had such an important impact on the entire world is overlooked.
Nikola Tesla vs. Thomas Edison
While Nikola Tesla has slowly been getting more of the recognition he deserves he may never be fully given the credit he is due. Thomas Edison on the other hand is treated like a modern-day demi-god with little reason to back that up. Let’s examine the facts in a scientific manner of which Tesla would approve (Edison wouldn’t care how we do it because we aren’t going to be making any money during this showdown).
Okay, so first, who invented electricity? Well, no one did. It’s a naturally occurring phenomenon which can only be discovered and then harnessed.
So which one of them discovered it? Neither. It’s isn’t really known who discovered electricity. There is evidence that there was at least some knowledge of it back to Greece in 600 BCE. – NO! It was not Benjamin Franklin.
What did these two do? They were inventors who found ways to harness and use electricity. Not all their inventions were strictly involving electricity, however.
One important point, is that we can’t be sure what all that Edison was given credit for was actually his own work. Edison owned a large laboratory employing numerous other inventors. If one of his employees made an incredible break through his work became the “intellectual property” of Edison. It is impossible to know what all he even had a hand in inventing himself.
Let’s start with the light bulb. One of the most used and useful inventions of modern times. So that’s one point Edison, right? Nope. Edison did NOT invent the light bulb as a matter of fact I’d have to list about 20 different people to fully answer this question. But Edison does get credit for making the longest lasting incandescent light bulb used in homes today. So that’s half a point.
Edison did invent the phonograph and the motion picture camera. He also brought electricity to the homes of Americans with the first power station on Manhattan. Of course, he was also the ass that pushed for electricity to be a paid service rather than something that was free. Oh yeah, the free thing- that was what Tesla was trying to do. Tesla instead wanted to place large Tesla coils about which would be used to release electricity into the air so that people could harness it and use it for free. With Tesla there’d be no outlets, no plugs, no cords and no electric bill. Of course, not being able to make money that way his funding from JP Morgan was pulled. Even though, Edison won this round in the real world I think it is easy to see that we’d be better off if Tesla had his way.
A more obvious win for Tesla however was the battle between AC and DC. Edison was hell bent on powering the country with the weaker DC which would have required substations every two miles. While Tesla insisted that AC was far superior. Edison, the big baby, was afraid of AC calling it the “current of death” and went about trying to prove this by cruelly electrocuting elephants in his smear campaign. As you can tell by the lack of substations cluttering up your neighborhood; Tesla won this important battle.
Tesla invented the AC induction motor which is used in a wide variety of industrial machines and household appliances throughout the world. It is often credited with being a large factor in the launching of the Industrial Revolution.
Tesla also invented the first radio, which lead to huge advances in the use of radio waves and radio wave technology. He also dabbled in robotics and invented the “death ray”.
Sadly, many of Tesla’s inventions never made it into the mainstream and those that did haven’t been properly credited to him. Whereas, Edison is incorrectly thought to have invented nearly everything. Edison clearly played the game better with his rich and powerful friends and allies that helped propel him into the forefront while Tesla was more eccentric and a loner. However, it is clear that Tesla made far more wide reaching and world changing discoveries and inventions than Edison.
Aside from all that two main factors give Tesla the undisputed edge; he was much better looking and he had a rockin’ 80′s hair band named after him so that’s an automatic win right there!
Christopher Columbus does not deserve a holiday
Christopher Columbus is probably one of the best examples of history not letting the facts get in the way of a good story. Very little of the traditional story is actually true.
First, he did sail from Spain in 1492 with the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. However, he did not reach America (or India for that matter). He landed in The Bahamas. He named the island San Salvador regardless of the fact that the people already living there called it Guanahani. Today, it is not certain which specific island this was.
During this voyage Columbus also explored parts of present day Haiti and Cuba.
Columbus then headed back to Spain with a few “Indians” he kidnapped. Most of which died on the way.
In 1493 Columbus left Spain again with 17 ships and 1,200 people to start a colony. He jumped around a lot exploring and killing natives. He remained in the basic area of Hispaniola and Cuba. But evidentially ended up in Jamaica.
“During his second voyage, Columbus and his men instituted a policy in Hispaniola which has been referred to by numerous historians as genocide.The native Taino people of the island were systematically enslaved and murdered. Hundreds were rounded up and shipped to Europe to be sold; many died en route. For the rest of the population, Columbus demanded that all Taino under his control should bring the Spaniards gold. Those who didn’t were to have their hands cut off. Since there was, in fact, little gold to be had, the Taino fled, and the Spaniards hunted them down and killed them. The Taino tried to mount a resistance, but the Spanish weaponry was superior, and European diseases ravaged their population. In despair, the Taino engaged in mass suicide, even killing their own children to save them from the Spaniards. Within two years, half of what may have been 250,000 Taino were dead. The remainder were taken as slaves and set to work on plantations, where the mortality rate was very high. By 1550, 60 years after Columbus landed, only a few hundred Taino were left on their island. In another hundred years, perhaps only a handful remained.” – excerpt from Wikipedia
In May 1498 Columbus left Spain for his third voyage. He sailed to the Portuguese island of Porto Santo, Cape Verde and the Canary Islands. He then landed on the south coast of Trinidad. He then explored some of the South American mainland around Venezula. He then stopped to check on his settlements in Hispaniola on his way back to Spain.
His fourth and final voyage in 1502 took him to back to Hispaniola and Jamaica and along the border of Central America including; Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
During this voyage Columbus was stranded in Jamaica for a year before being rescued and returning to Spain for good.
At no point in his life did Christopher Columbus ever step foot on or come close to the mainland of North America.
He was a kidnapping tyrant who committed genocide and sold people into slavery. Why do we celebrate Columbus day?
Just a side note; Leif Ericson was he first to reach America from Europe.
That’s to say nothing of the fact that none of them “discovered” America- there were people already here!
Lincoln, great guy, but not an abolitionist
Lincoln, great guy, but not an abolitionist
It was assumed by many that he was an advocate of freeing the slaves, as he was a republican (yes he was) and many of his political enemies made him out to be an abolitionist. However, in his Inaugural Address, he stated: “I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institutions of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so”.
Many historians believe that Lincoln did not actually care whether slavery was ended or not, or if he presided over a country where all men are equal, but that he used this as a façade for public and political purposes. This view can be supported by many of Lincoln’s statements, such as:
“I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about…the social and political equality of the white and black races…I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people…And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race”.
Some historians believe that, although Lincoln did not view the abolishment of slavery as a means of creating a nation in which all men are equal, he may have seen it as the means by which he could save the Union.
Grandpa Wasn’t an Ape
Grandpa wasn’t an ape
Contrary to popular belief it is a misnomer that evolution claims that we are descendant from apes.
It in fact does not claim that- we actually have a common ancestor which is not at all the same as to say we are descendant from them.
It is more like a second cousin not a grandparent.
The ancestor is believed to be from the Miocene Epoch (7 million years ago).
Either Sahelanthropus tchadensis, Orrorin or possibly Ardipithecus
Founding Fathers didn’t want the US to be a Christian nation
Founding Fathers didn’t want the US to be a Christian nation
I know this is going to cause controversy but I am only giving you the facts.
The constitution never mentions any deity because the founding fathers wanted this to be a religion neutral nation.
George Washington and John Adams in the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli wrote, “The government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”
After George Washington’s death, Christians made an intense effort to claim him as one of their own. This effort was based largely on the grounds that Washington had regularly attended services with his wife at an Episcopal Church and had served as a vestryman in the church. On August 13, 1835, a Colonel Mercer, involved in the effort, wrote to Bishop William White, who had been one of the rectors at the church Washington had attended. In the letter, Mercer asked if “Washington was a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, or whether he occasionally went to the communion only, or if ever he did so at all…”
On August 15, 1835, White sent Mercer this reply
In regard to the subject of your inquiry, truth requires me to say that Gen. Washington never received the communion in the churches of which I am the parochial minister. Mrs. Washington was an habitual communicant…. I have been written to by many on that point, and have been obliged to answer them as I now do you.
