America “Land of the Free” A Story of America’s Rights and Liberties.

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America “Land of the Free” A Story of America’s Rights and Liberties

Transcript of America “Land of the Free” A Story of America’s Rights and Liberties.

America “Land of the Free”A Story of America’s Rights and Liberties

A song recorded by Buffalo Springfield (1967)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY

a. What do you think this song is about i.e. what’s going on?

b. Analyze each stanza of the song, and identify the rights or freedoms that are related to each verse.

c. What do you think is the overall message of the songwriter?

d. Discuss how For What It’s Worth

relates to the Bill of Rights.

Directions: Analyze each piece of artwork below and connect it to one of the amendments listed in the Bill of Rights. Explain fully in two to three complete sentences why and how you think the artwork relates to the chosen amendment and discuss the current implications of this amendment for society. Be prepared to discuss your reasoning to the class.

Divide the class into groups of 3-4, and give students 15-20 minutes to name and describe their country and create a written Bill of Rights. Each group needs to record their answers. Then each team will briefly present their Bill of Rights to the class and provide rational for each of the rights. Then discuss the following questions with the whole class:

ArtWork #1

2nd Amendment – right to bear arms

1st Amendment – freedom of speech (symbolic speech)

ArtWork #2

1st Amendment – right to peaceable assembly

1st Amendment – right to free speech

Artwork #3

1st Amendment – right to assembly

1st Amendment – right to free speech

Artwork #4

1st Amendment – freedom of religion

ArtWork #5

6th amendment – right to public trial by impartial jury

ArtWork #6

5th amendment – accused cannot be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law

8th amendment – no cruel and unusual punishment

ArtWork #7

5th amendment – due process

6th amendment – speedy trial

6th amendment – accused informed of charges

6th amendment – right to an attorney

• What was realistic about this simulation and what was not?

• What problems did your group face when creating the Bill of Rights? How did your group reach a consensus?

• Looking at all of the bills of rights produced by the class, what rights or freedoms seemed common to all or most of them? What does that say about our class and our culture?

• What generalizations can you make about the process of creating a bill of rights in a new country?

Respond to the following questions:

•a. What right listed in the Bill of Rights do you think is the most important to you as an individual and to American society in general? Defend your answer.

Respond to the following questions:

•b. What right(s) do you think should be included in the Bill of Rights that is/are presently absent? Explain.

•c. The Bill of Rights was written in 1791. How relevant or significant do you think they are today?

Respond to the following questions:

•d. Identify several examples of what you can do in your everyday life as a person living in the United States that are protected by the Bill of Rights

Decide whether the action is protected by the Constitution or not. Be prepared to discuss in class and defend your decision

Read, First Amendment Understanding Lacking article, analyze the article and write your response. Then be prepared to report your findings to the class on the questions at the end.

Read, The Internet vs. the First Amendment.

The New York Times article “The Internet vs. the First Amendment” is an op-ed piece and reflects the author’s opinion.

Analyze the article then review questions at the end and write your response, be prepared to defend your opinion to the class.

The Bill of Rights is a collection of additions and changes to the constitution. Each addition or change is called an “Amendment”. Below are the first ten amendments. For each Amendment, fill in the “in other words” section if it is not done for you (this means paraphrase the Amendment in your own words). Then use the t-chart to provide examples that your group can think of where these rights were either upheld or violated. This is an individual assignment. Be prepared to discuss in class and defend your statements

• Homework

Then the ConstitutionConstitution was written. The United States United States ConstitutionConstitution says how the governmentgovernment works. It was signed on September 17, September 17, 17871787. Some of the men who signed it were George George Washington, Benjamin Washington, Benjamin Franklin Franklin andand John Adams. John Adams.

The PatriotsPatriots fighting for a new nationnation wanted to form a governmengovernment that did not allow one person to have too much authority or control. They wanted the “people” to make decisions. DemocracyDemocracy is a part of our system because of that.

The first United States United States PresidentPresident was Revolutionary War Revolutionary War hero General George hero General George WashingtonWashington.

The ConstitutionConstitution is a valuable part of America’sAmerica’s history. The first part of the ConstitutionConstitution is the called the PreamblePreamble. The Preamble Preamble begins with “We the People…”“We the People…” Click to the next slide to read it,

The first part of the ConstitutionConstitution is called the PreamblePreamble.

It tells what our founding fathers set out to do

WWe the peopleIn order to form a more perfect union,

Establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,Provide for the common defense,Promote the general welfare and

Secure the blessings of libertyTo ourselves and our posterity

Do ordain and establish this ConstitutionConstitutionfor the UUnited SStates of AAmerica.

America’sAmerica’s fight for freedomfreedom and independenceindependence was one fought hard by early settlersearly settlers. That fight, loyal PatriotsPatriots, documents like the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence, and the ConstitutionConstitution is what brought independence independence and freedomfreedom to our country, but it wasn’t an easy path.

Now it is your job to appreciate the long journey that this countrycountry traveled since it’s early days. As Americans,Americans, everyone should treasure that freedom freedom each and every day. Like the PatriotsPatriots who fought so hard for independence ndependence and freedom, freedom, all United States United States citizenscitizens should be “Proud to be an AmericanAmerican!”

If you have internet connected, you can If you have internet connected, you can listen to the preamble. Click on the listen to the preamble. Click on the

links below.links below.

Listen to the Words of the Preamble Listen to the Words of the Preamble

"School House Rock" Preamble"School House Rock" Preamble

To see the words of the Preamble, click here.To see the words of the Preamble, click here.

Written and Created by Stacy Bodin