It is crucial for citizens to know their rights in order to ensure fairness for themselves. (Freepik)
The United States of America was built on a foundation of documents that sustained freedom for all, liberty, and a democratic democracy. The amendments, constitutional clauses, and the old nations’ documents (anti-federalist and federalist papers) are all pieces of work that need to be read and understood by every American.
These writings started the groundwork of our democracy and basic citizen rights. It is important to understand our nation’s history, both good and bad, and learn what are rights to protect ourselves from the federal government or state powers.
The rising power of media in the newer generations has been both a positive effect on education but also a very poor one. News or news articles are easier to access now, which allows people to get information quicker and sufficiently.
However, very far right media and very far left media can cause misinformation among people. Extremist news, articles, and ideas can cause a disruption in education.
Our government and what American democracy is supposed to stand for, has lost its way in a sense of politics. Both political parties are so torn about from each other due to dissenting opinions of politics.
Federalist 10, written by James Maddison, is a document discussing that a strong federal government is necessary to protect liberty by preventing factions. Faction is practically a term for a political party, or interest group.
Maddison wrote in the paper that factions can infringe on an individual’s right and dominate a nation. The paper can be read as a warning not to fall so deep into a political group, or it will cause a negative effect.
That document was written a hundred years ago and it can still be attached to today’s society and democracy. We can use it to understand history’s warnings and educate ourselves on our government.
Our amendments are something every person that lives in the United States should know. Knowing our free speech and what limits that ability to our right to privacy and citizenship is all important to know and exercise.
Many Americans need to understand what each of our Bill of Rights entail and how our government can either abuse them or misconstrued their meaning.
The 2nd amendment is an example of this. In our Bill of Rights, it states that a well regulated militia is necessary to the security of the state and protects the rights of people to keep and bear arms.
When and the way it was written was intended to bear arms against the government, if democracy has come unjust and fringes upon citizens rights and liberties. As times began to change, so did the interpretation of that amendment.
The change of interpretation has caused a widespread argument across the nation and has been a main problem in our government. If more people educated themselves on this amendment and just all of them in general, there would be change that will better and strengthen our democracy.
The documents that this country was founded on are so important to know and learn as Americans. Knowing our rights and amendments gives us leverage against the injustices that our government may bestow on us.
It is important to remember that our amendments are made for the citizens rights and liberties, and that we have the power to overturn the government if they abuse their power.