[September 17, 2015] Several years ago, several friends of mine attended a half-day seminar on the U.S. Constitution and were quickly aghast at how ordinary people like us older adults knew so little about the document. If that were the case, we figured that our children and young folks probably knew even less … and we were right.
Today, I’m happy to report that schools are doing a better job teaching the basics of the Constitution. Although mostly taught in an unexciting way – as much of history is taught – at least our school-aged children are learning some important points. For example, they are taught that the U.S. Constitution is the oldest in the world. Let’s hope they also teach them why it has lasted so long.
What most people don’t know about the Constitution, and which is important for a richer understanding of its makeup, is that several states refused to ratify the document until amendments were allowed. Those amendments, of course, were a crucial addition that has allowed the original document to expand to include important issues. The first ten amendments that guaranteed a number of individual freedoms were submitted for ratification a year later. These first ten are now called, collectively, the Bill of Rights.
Today is officially known as Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day) and recognizes both the signing of the U.S. Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It’s traditionally observed on this date, the date that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia.1 While we do recognize this as an important date, June 21, 1788 has special importance also as this was the date that the Constitution was formally ratified.2
We owe so much to the representatives of the various states that ensured that citizens of the United States have a long-lasting constitution that guarantees both individual rights and prevents the abuse of certain political powers by elected individuals.
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- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Day_(United_States)
- http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-constitution-signed
[Note] Here are a few websites that I use as references whenever I have a question on the U.S. Constitution:
- http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html
- http://www.history.com/topics/constitution
- http://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/
- http://www.constitutionday.com/
- http://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/bill-of-rights/