The lofty purpose of the fathers of the republic in establishing this, the first real government by the people, is expressed in these thrilling words:
"_We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for the United States of America._"
1. Why did the early settlers come to America?
2. From what countries did they come? Which countries were most important?
3. Why did they become dissatisfied with English rule here?
4. Why did they wish to unite? Name some of the earlier attempts at union.
5. When was the Stamp Act passed? What was it supposed to do? Why did the colonists object?
6. Why were the Articles of Confederation not satisfactory?
7. What was the meeting in Philadelphia in 1787? How were the representatives at this meeting chosen? How did they try to see that the representatives at this meeting actually represented the people?
8. How was the Constitution ratified by the people? In what way did they try to make it the actual will of the people?
10. What amendments have been added to the Constitution since 1791?
A. How did the makers of the Constitution guard against the abuses cited in the Declaration of Independence?
B. How were the defects in the Articles of Confederation guarded against and remedied?
C. What experience had the makers of the Constitution had which enabled them to prepare so successful a document?
D. Would you say that Gladstone's statement, "It is the greatest work ever struck off at any one time by the mind and purpose of man" was literally true?
E. How did the allusions to other countries made during the convention show the advantage of America's being a "melting pot"?
F. What people were allowed to vote at the time of the adoption of the Constitution?
G. What were the chief objections urged against ratification of the Constitution?
A Comparison of the Work Done Then and the Outline Made in Answers to Questions J Chapter Two
How Freedom Of Worship, Speech, The Press, And Assembly Are Guaranteed
This morning we begin the consideration of what I believe to be the most important of all the subjects we have talked about. I think people are more interested in their privileges and rights than they are in their duties. In fact we hear a great deal and we read a great deal about "rights", but we do not find very much said on the streets, in the homes, or in the newspapers about our "duties".(48)