SUMMARY:

The rst amendment is the freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. This amendment
was passed along with the bill of rights on December 15, 1791. The freedom of speech allows you to paint
art, photographs, lms, and advertisements of your beliefs. This freedom not only protects the speaker but
also receiver. These freedoms are not always absolute, and sometimes the government can limit this
freedom. For example if someone wants to have a protest on a public street they would need to get
permission to do so. For the freedom of religion people are allowed to wear clothing that symbolizes their
religion. They are allowed to pray in public or private. This also gives the people the right to not believe in a
religion. The freedom of religion was passed because Great Britain was completely Christian but the
Americans wanted people to have freedom in what they wanted to believe in.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
1)This is the freedom of speech, religion
press, assembly, and petition.
2)Protects everyone so that nobody can be
discriminated for their beliefs.
3)Was passed with the Bill of Rights and the
other rst 10 amendments.
4)People can express speech in any way ,
however they want.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
This amendment was passed with the bill of
rights because the founding fathers wanted
to guarantee that the basic civil liberties
would not be threatened by the government.
The First Amendment
The rst amendment allows people in the US to
practice any religion they would like. The US is not
an Christian only country.
The freedom of speech allows people to
stand up against other people and the
government.
De c e mbe r 1 5 ,
1791
Rufn Henry
2nd Amendment
Right to Bare Arms
Ratified: December 19, 1791
Summary: The second Amendment, the Right to Bear
Arms, is the amendment that grants the common people the
right to own, buy, and sell guns. It was ratified on December
19, 1791 and was passed by Congress on September 25th,
1789. The second Amendment grants the individual to own,
use, and buy a gun in the USA, instead of only the militia,
people who are formally trained to be in the military. During
this time, the 1700s, owning a gun was essential because that
is what feeds the family, since hunting is the only way for a
family to find food. Since a gun was a very popular item all
throughout the 1700s, the manufacturing and sale of guns put
forth a very important factor of the economy and government
of the United States.
Historical Context: Since this amendment is
one of the first 10 amendments, it was passed as a
part of the Bill of Rights. At the Constitutional
Convention, the absence of a bill of rights, a
document stating the rights of the individual, made
the ratification of the Constitution hard to ratify
because some states said that they would not vote
for the Constitution to be ratified because there was
no bill of rights. The Amendment states that all
citizens should be able to own a gun, in order to
keep the security of the state under a militia, an
informal group of people who are trained like
soldiers.
Essential Elements:

1. Allows common people to own, buy, and sell guns.
2. Debates whether only the militia, formally trained
persons, can own guns, or the individual.
3. Courts can limit rights of gun buyers, sellers, and
manufacturers.
4. Passed as a part of the Bill of Rights
5. There is a wide amount of gun legislation in the U.S.A.
The Second Amendment
allows militia to protect the
country.
A gun from the 1700s that the
Second Amendment made legal
to buy, own, and manufacture.
By: Jane Murphy
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. - Constitution
Quartering of soldiers
the third amendment
Ratied December 15, 1791.
No soldier is allowed to be boarded in any
house wi t hout t he awar eness and
acceptance of the owner, neither in time of
war. When soldiers used to stay at owners
houses it was hard for the owner to keep
them well fed and comfortable if they were
not super wealthy. This amendment affects
the homeowners and soldiers. Being an
amendment of the American constitution this
only affects America. This rule only started
being applied in 1791. The reason that this
amendment is important and was put in place
at the begining of America is because in the
revolutionary war the British army was
quartering soldiers in American homes and
the Americans did not like it, so they decided
to make this amendment.
QUARTERING OF SOLDIERS
THE THIRD AMENDMENT
RATIFIED DECEMBER 15, 1791.
This amendment was created because
during the revolutionary war British soldiers
were being stationed in American homes
and they did not like that so this amendment
makes sure that that will not happen. The
reason that this was ratied is because
Americans were sick and tired of taking care
of British troops. This amendment is in the
Bill of Rights which contains the rst ten
amendments.
MAX
KEAN

1. PART OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS
2. MADE AFTER REVOLUTIONARY WAR
3. QUARTERING OF SOLDIERS
4. MUCH MORE IMPORTANT IN THE COLONIAL TIMES.
5. HATED BY COLONIAL AMERICANS
5 things to Know
A soldier asking this woman for a place to stay .
A soldier asking for
a place to stay
during peacetime.
The 4th Amendment, called Search and Seizure,
was ratied on December 15, 1791. One of the
rst ten amendments,it came straight from the Bill
of Rights. The idea of this amendment is to
balance individual rights and the governments
duty to protect the public. In order to protect
people from unnecessary searches and seizures
by the government, this amendment requires a
government actor to have a reasonable belief
that a crime has been committed. The
government then can receive a warrant from a
judge to search a persons body, car, or house.
Complaints of a certain person selling illegal
drugs, paired with evidence, can lead to
permission to look through their bag or pockets.
However, if the government obtains an item in
violation of this amendment, the item will not be
allowed as evidence in court. The Fourth
Amendment protects peoples belongings from
unr easonabl e gover nment al i nt r usi on,
recognizing that individuals have a reasonable
expectation of privacy (the right to be let alone).
1) This amendment protects people and their property.
2) It gives citizens a reasonable expectation of privacy.
3) It balances rights of individual with needs of public safety.
4) It was fashioned so that the government could not abuse its power.
4th AMENDMENT: SEARCH AND SEIZURE
1791
The 4th amendment was created with the original
ten Bill of Rights, in 1791. The purpose of this
amendment was to recognize that citizens have
the right to expectation of privacy. This
Amendment balances individual rights and the
governments duty to protect the public. In 1756,
the state of Massachusetts wrote a law that
banned general warrants, which allowed any
ofcer or government actor to search a
suspected place, even with no evidence. This
was because tax collectors were abusing powers
by searching homes for illegal goods. It even
gave them power to take people to jail without
telling them what they did wrong or showing them
evidence. Because the state needed to also
protect the community, these problems led to the
creation of the 4th Amendment.
SUMMARY
HISTORY
The Fourth Amendment protects peoples property from
unreasonable government intrusion.
Police ofcers can receive a document from the
government called a search warrant, which enables them
permission to search someone or someplace.
Even though the fth amendment states that
refusing to talk in a trial cannot be used against
someone, many people are suspicious when
someone takes the fth.
Fifth Amendment
Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination,
Due Process, Takings

1791
Summary:
The fth amendment, called Grand Jury,
Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due
Process, Takings, was ratied in 1791. It
guarantees the right to a Grand Jury in a
serious federal crime case; protects
against being tried twice for the same
crime; prohibits the government from
forcing someone to testify against
themselves; guarantees a fair trial; and
requi res the government to pay a
compensation for private property taken
for public use.
Historical Context:
The framers of the constitution had been
oppressed by the tyrannical monarchy of Great
Britain. As a result, they did not trust large, all-
powerful governments. To prevent the United
States government from having too much power,
they guaranteed specic rights to citizens in the
Fifth Amendment. The fth amendment was
created as a part of the bill of rights. The Bill of
Rights was created after the constitutional
convent i on because opponent s of t he
consti tuti on wanted certai n ri ghts to be
guaranteed by the constitution.
Essential Elements:
guarantees the right to a Grand Jury in a serious federal crime case
protects against being tried twice for the same crime
prohibits government from forcing someone to testify against self
guarantees a fair trial
requires government to pay owner for private property taken for
public use
The double jeopardy clause
protects someone from being
punished twice for the same
crime.
Charlotte
Williams

SUMMARY
The 5 amendment titled Grand Jury, Double
Jeopardy, Self-incrimination, Due process,
takings was passed by congress September 25
1789 with the bill of rights and ratied December
15th 1791. The amendment states that serious
crime has to be approached by a Grand Jury in
court. Grand Jury can be assigned to anyone
except members of the military. The jury is
selected secretly out of the population. This
amendment also states that the person who is
being prosecuted for a crime has the right to not
take part at his or her trial, they must take a DNA
test if needed. The right to due process is the
right to protect those accused of a crime. This
idea was taken from the Magna Carta. The
amendment also includes double jeopardy which
means a person cannot be persecuted for the
same thing. Takings states that the government
can buy you out of your home for the purpose of
the public
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
This amendment was created for criminals to
have fair trials and proper rulings. The Founding
Fathers were creating a country and needed a
complex set of laws for trials and persecution.
This was one of the rst of ten to be passed in
the Bill of Rights
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
1.The law was passed with the Bill of Rights
2. Includes the right to have a fair trial
3. Includes the right to have a Grand Jury be present at a trial
4. Includes the right to not be persecuted for the same crime twice
5. Includes the right to remain silent means a person does not have to speak at
his or her trial
5th AMENDMENT
Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy,
Self-incrimination, Due Process,
Takings
Grand Jury at a trial in California
Comic by Don Mathias about the fth
amendment
Taylor Herrington
Summary:
The Seventh Amendment which is the right to a
Jury Trial in Civil lawsuits, was passed by congress
on September 25th 1789. Two years later on
December 15th 1791 it was ratied by the required 9
states, it was part of the rst 10 amendments to
form the Bill of Rights. The amendment states that
if in a civil lawsuit the value that you are suing for
is more than twenty dollars, then you have to right
a jury in trial. It also means that once this case is
tried it cannot be re-tried in any other court unless
the rules of common law is upheld. This
amendment extends the right to a jury in federal
civil cases, such as car accidents, disputes between
corporations for breach of contract or most
discrimination or employment disputes. In civil
cases the lawsuit (plainti!) seeks money/damages
or court order preventing the person being sued
from engaging in certain conduct, to win he/she
must have at least 50% of proof. Only guarantees
the right to a jury in federal court, not state court.
7th Amendment:
Jury Trial in Civil Lawsuits
1789
The Scales of Justice
r epr esent t he 7t h
amendment, because it
is a symbol for justice
which is the purpose
of a court, to provide
justice
Historical Content:
The 7th amendment which is the Right to a Jury
in Civil Lawsuits, is part of the rst ten
amendments, on the Bill of Rights. The Bill of
Rights was created in order to give the citizens
a list of their rights and freedoms, it lists
specic prohibitions on government. It was
written by James Madison in 1791, these 10
amendments were ratied on December 15th
1791. The Federal i st s ar gued t hat t he
Constitution did not need a Bill of Rights, but
the Anti-Federalists argued that having a Bill of
Rights was essential to the Constitution and to
the new country. It was designed primarily to
prevent the establishment of arbitrary courts of
justice, where the decision of the judges is
subject to the whims and control of the
government.
A jury is a body of people
(typically twelve in number)
sworn to give a verdict in a legal
case on the basis of evidence
submitted to them in court.,
which is guaranteed by the 7th
amendment
Essential Elements:
Only guarantees the right to a jury in
federal court, not state court
If the amount that you are suing for
exceeds twenty dollars, then you have the
right to a jury
Part of the first 10 amendments on the Bill
of Rights
Passed by Congress on September 25th
1789
By: Amelia Peters
The Eighth Amendment
EXCESSIVE FINES, CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS
Ratified 1791
On September 25, 1789, Congress passed the Eighth Amendment
and on December 15, 1791 it was ratied. The name of the Eighth
Amendment was Excessive Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment. It
protects the rights of prisoners before they are tried and after they are
convicted and it prohibits being forced to provide excessive bail. In
some cases however, it is allowed to not allow someone the chance to
provide bail because of fear that they would run away or commit more
crimes. In addition is does not allow excessive nes, which means you
cant overne somebody for a petty crime. It also does not allow cruel
and unusual punishment (torture) on any account. An example of
when this amendment was broken was in Massachusetts when people
were found guilty for blasphemy and they were sentenced to death
and tortured in many ways.
The rst part of the amendment states that when
someone is found guilty they are charged with nes
that are appropriate to the crime they committed.
This also applies to Bails.
The second part is that torture is not allowed
under ANY circumstances.
Historical content: It was thought to be inhumane to torture people in most of Europe
so when America was founded they decided that torture should not be allowed. They
wrote this amendment on the original bill of rights with all the rst ten amendments to
reinforce and guarantee individual rights.
By: Joshua Keegan
Essential elements:
No excessive bails nes including bails.
However the cost of bail changes for every given court case.
If someone is found guilty though they CANNOT be tortured
under ANY circumstances.
It was on the original bill of rights
The ninth amendment says that there are more
rights the American citizens are given than only the
ones stated in the constitution. This law was created
with the bill of rights and was ratied in 1791 with the
rest of the constitution. This refers to natural rights, a
belief that as creatures of god we all deserve basic
rights. Some examples of natural rights are the right
to life, freedom, and pursuit of happiness. In
summary, the ninth amendment states that the
American citizens have Natural Rights that dont
even need to be mentioned in the Constitution
because they should be given to the people anyways!
When the constitution was created, some
people believed the constitution did not protect the
rights of the individual. These people were called
anti-federalists. They argued that there should be a
Bill of Rights. As a result, 10 amendments were
created to fulll the duty of protecting the
individuals rights. However, when they were
making the Bill of Rights they knew they weren't
going to be able to cover all of the rights they
believed people should have. As a result they
created the ninth amendment to close that gap.
December 15, 1789
Nin!
Essential Knowledge:

Made to tie up loose ends in the list of American rights

There are unmentioned rights in the constitution that need to be protected

Part of the Bill of Rights
`
100%
I KNOW HOW TO
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM!
WE WILL ADD AN
AMENDMENT THAT
STATES THAT THERE
ARE
UNMENTIONED
RIGHTS!
By: JOEL FUNDERBURK
No one can force you
against your will in the
USA or chain you up
because of the 9th
amendment
This plant is
prospering
because it was
given a chance at
life! Just like you!
Summary
The tenth amendment is in the Bill of Rights and was
ratied on September 5, 1789. The tenth amendment
is the rights reserved to states or people. It protects
the states rather than individual people. The federal
government has specic powers which include the
power to declare war, collect taxes, regulate interstate
business activities, etc. The powers that are not listed
for this amendment, the states and people have. It is
very important to the people because it balances
powers and conrms continuing roles of the
government. The tenth amendment prevents the
people and states from feeling like they are being
controlled by the government.
Historical Context:
This amendment was written as a part
of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights
are collective names of the rst ten
amendments. It was added to the Bill
of Rights to limit the powers and rights
the federal government had and to
extend the states and peoples powers.
Four Essential Elements:
Reserved to the states and/or the people
Conrms ongoing roles of the constitution
Denes balance of power
Part of the Bill of Rights
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom
for this amendment. Freedom represents the
people because they have redeemed more
freedom by limiting the governments power.
A group of protestors stand outside with posters
saying that no one is free if the governments power
is not limited. The tenth amendment limits the
governments power by taking away some of their
rights and giving them to the states.
10th Amendment
Rights Reserved to States or People
By: Celia Romano
1789
Ratied in 1795
11th Amendment
Suits against states
Summary:
The eleventh amendment is saying you can not sue a state that
you do not live. The 11th amendment is Suits Against States. It
was Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratied February 7,
1795. It rst constitutional amendment to specically overturn a
Supreme Court decision. It is an amendment because the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled in 1793 that two men could from South
Carolina could sue the State of Georgia. This amendment
prohibits federal courts from hearing cases in which a state is
sued by an individual from another state or another country. It is
protecting states from certain types of legal liability.
Historical context
The amendment came to be because the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled in 1793 that two men from
South Carolina could sue and collect debts from
the State of Georgia. States-rights advocates in
Congress and the states pushed for what
became the Eleventh Amendment in 1795.
Essential Elements:
1. Protecting states from certain types of legal liability.
2. Prohibits federal courts from hearing cases in which a state is sued
3. First constitutional amendment to specically overturn a Supreme Court decision
Robert DeRussy
This eleventh amendment is the rst amendment to
overturn the supreme courts decision. Also the
amendment was written because two men sued the
state Georgia
A gavel under a pile of money representing that
you can not sue a state that you do not inhabit.
Summary
The 12th amendment was written December 9th, 1803
and ratied June 15th, 1804 when there were some
governmental issues taking place between the vice president
and the president. During elections, the presidential candidate
with the most votes got the position of the president and the
runner up got the position of the vice president. Even though
this seemed like a good idea at the time, it frequently caused
problems with ruling because the elected ofcers often had
different political views, resulting in arguments among the
people and political ofcials. With the creation of the 12th
amendment, the presidential candidate with the most votes
(president) got to choose the vice president based on his/her
own points of view. The 12th amendment also strongly suggests
that the president and vice president are from different states so
that the electors from that state may vote for both ofces. The
12th amendment helps the president and vice president get
along better, resulting in smoother and more successful ruling.
Historical Context
The 12th amendment was created to change the
process of elections. This process is called the Electoral
College. Specically, it was created after the 1800
Presidential Election in order to x some aws that
allowed Thomas Jefferson to tie with vice presidential
candidate, Aaron Burr. The 12th amendment also
enforces the qualications and responsibilities of being
a presidential candidate. Its purpose is to smooth out
the relationship between the president and vice
president, because frequently, before this amendment
was created, ruling was rough because of the clashing
political views of both ofcers.
The Electoral College is the process
of presidential elections. As of 2012,
Louisiana has eight votes.
Essencial Elements

1. Qualications of president and vice president

2. Presidential candidate chooses own vice president

3. The Electoral College is the process of elections

4. President and vice president should be from different states
12th Amendment
Election of Presidents and Vice Presidents
by: Adair Rufty
Prior to the 2000 election, presidential
candidate George W. Bush and vice
presidential candidate Dick Cheney both
lived in Texas, so as the 12th Amendment
recommends, Dick Cheney moved to his
hometown in Wyoming.
1804

13 Admendment:
Abolishing Slavery
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States
Consti tuti on abol i shed sl avery and i nvol untary
servitude,except punishment as a crime. It was passed by
Senate on April 8,1864,and by the House of Reps on
January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6,
1865.Secretary of State William H. Seward announced
its adoption on December 18,1865. It was the first of
the Three Reconstruction Amendments,and was adopted
after the American Civil War. The measure was quickly
ratified by most northern states,along with a sufficient
number of border and reconstructed states.
Though many slaves had been freed by
Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation ,there
were questions about its validity since the
proclamation didnt address slaves in the
north. So by creating an amendment abolishing
slavery,Congress hoped to remove any
questions about emancipation from politics.
1. The Thirteenth Amendment to the United
States Constitution abolished slavery and
involuntary servitude,except punishment as
a crime.
2. It was passed by Senate on Apri l
8,1864,and by the House of Reps on
January 31, 1865, and adopted on
December 6, 1865.
3. I t wa s t h e f i r s t o f t h e Th r e e
Reconstruction Amendments,and was
adopted after the American Civil War.
4. Slavery had been protected in the original
Constitution through clauses such as;Three
Fifths Clause.
5. The 13th Amendment was created to
remove questions about Lincolns Emancipation
Proclamations validity from politics.
"Amendment XIII -
Abolition of Slavery."
National Constitution
Center
Constitutioncenter.org.
N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept.
2014. <http://
constitutioncenter.org/
constitution/the-
amendments/
amendment-13-slavery-
abolished>.
Documentation:
By:Sophie
Hogan
Historical Context
warning slaves to watch
out for slave catchers
and kidnappers
Abolitionist Poster
Abraham Lincoln
Founder of the Emancipation
Proclamation and signer of
the 13th amendment.
Historical Context: The 13th
Amendment was made to abolish slavery
in the United States and provide that
slavery except for crime whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted,
shall exist within the United States, or any
place subject to their jurisdiction. The
Civil War led to the ratication of the 13th
Amendment by how people in the
government were falling apart from
slavery. Congress passed it to the states
and it was abolished.
Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th
Amendment.
Two Jewish girls protesting over
slavery.
Summary: The 13th Amendment is
Abolition of Slavery. The amendment was
passed by congress on 31 December,
1865 and ratied on 6 December, 1865.
Congress had the power to enforce this
article by appropriate legislation. Slavery
except for crime shall have been duly
convicted, shall exist with in the US, and
any place subject to their jurisdiction.
This amendment was signed by
Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
Essential Elements: 1. slavery except for
crime shall have been duly convicted,
shall exist within the US, and any place
subject to their jurisdiction
2. abolish slavery in the United States
3. during civil war which people were
suffering from slavery
4. 1807 end date for for the importation of
slaves
13th Amendment
Abolition of Slavery
1865
Ratied 1865
By: Ellie Montgomery
Ratied in 1868, the 14th Amendment named Citizenship Rights, Equal Protection, Apportionment,
Civil War Debt mainly a!ects Indians and citizens of the USA. The Amendment makes Indians not
count for taxation, but they do count for representation. It also says that if you were a part of a rebellion
or if you are a criminal you can not be in federal or state o"ce. This Amendment was ratied after the
Civil War, and this is important because many people rebelled against the United States in that war,
and those people lost one of their rights. This Amendment was passed to warn citizens not to rebel, to
secure citizens rights, and to make African Americans citizens after slavery was abolished in the 13th
Amendment.
Historical Context
Thi s Amendment was
created as a result of the
civil war. This amendment
was ratied in 1868 and the
Civil War ended in 1865.
The amendment also took
away some rights of those
who rebel agai nst the
government, for example
the Union who rebelled in
the Civil War.
14th Amendment
Citizenship Rights, Equal Protection, Apportionment,
The Battle of Chickamauga, one of the major battles
in the Civil War with the 2nd highest casualty number
Essential Elements
1. Indians did not count for
taxation

2. State power is limited

3. Everyone except native
americans are citizens

4. Native Americans were
treated as cruelly as African
Americans once were
An African American voting now that
he is a citizen of the United States
14th Amendment
By: Tim Favrot
The 14th amendment sates that all
people, regardless of ethnicity or
or i gi n, ar e t o r ecei ve equal
protecti on under the l aw. The
amendment also states that all
children, black or white, are to
receive an equal education. It states
that anyone that was natural born is
a U.S. citizen, including slaves that
had been freed. It also overrules the
original plan tho have slaves only
count as three fths of a person
population wise.
The phrase equal justice under law
was created because of the 14th
amendment. It is engraved on the top
of the Supreme Court building in
Washington D.C.
This Justice Scale represents equality under
the law in the U.S.A.
The 14th Amendment was ratied on
July 9, 1868. The amendment was
written because some states were
denying legal protection to freed
slaves. Politicians in Washington
believed this wasnt right, so an
amendment was proposed, written,
and ratied. Unfortunately, this
amendment was ignored for almost
a century after its ratication in 1868.
It was brought back into relevance
when the Civil Rights Movement in
the 1960s led to protesting the
education and treatment of African
Americans.
1. Provides rights to freed slaves.
2. Provides equal education to blacks and
whites.
3. Overrules idea that blacks are a fraction of
a person
4. Grants U.S. citizenship to freed slaves
5.Provides equal legal protection to everyone
in America
Summary :
The 15th Amendment is named The
Right to Vote Not Denied By Race. It was
passed by Congress February 26, 1869. and
ratied February 3, 1870 following the Civil
War. It clearly prohibits the use of race in
determining which citizens can vote and how
they do so. It abolishes one of the key traces
of slavery and advances the civil rights and
liberties of former slaves. Congress has the
power to enforce it by enacting federal
legislation that ensures racial equality in
voting. If someone denies or acts against this
law, there will be consequences. This
amendment is for the US only and effects any
citizen of the age of 18 or older.
Historical Content:
The 15th Amendment was the last of
the Reconstruction Amendments to be
a d o p t e d . T h e Re c o n s t r u c t i o n
Amendments were the amendments made
right after the civil war. The 15th
Amendment is the third and nal amendment
in the Reconstruction Amendments
followed by the 13th Amendment and the
14th Amendment. All three amendments
worked to create equality between all
citizens of the U.S. The Reconstruction
Amendments abolished slavery, created
equal citizenship for all people under the law,
and let African Americans vote.
Essential Elements
1. prohibits use of race in determining
which citizens can vote
2. Congress has power to enforce it
3. affects citizens that are at least 18
years old
15th Amendment
The Right to Vote Not Denied by Race
The 15th Amendment gives African
Americans the power to vote.
Slaves being put to work before the
Reconstruction Amendments were
passed by congress.
Ratied in 1870
Project by : Adair Cook
15th Amendment
By Jordan Bennett
Voting is not denied by race
Patrick Mundy Peterson, the rst African-
American to vote in a presidential
election,
Ratied: February 3rd, 1870.
Historical Context: The 15th
amendment was created post
Civil war. The amendment
was ratied as an aid to the
complete abolition abolition of
slavery. Slavery was
abolished recently before the
amendment was ratied,
slavery was abolished just 5
years before the 15th
amendment which was
ratied on February 3rd, 1870
Su mma r y : T h e f t e e n t h
amendment that was created in
1869 states that the right to vote
is not denied by race. This
amendment was part of the
complete abolishment of slavery
and African-American injustice.
The amendment had little to no
effect for a generation due to
illiteracy. The amendment could
be enforced i f voti ng was
denied. Many people thought
that the amendment should
include women as well, but that
amendment came 50 years later
in 1919.
The 15th
amendment
in action today.
Five Important Points:
1. The right to vote is not denied
by race.
2. The 15th amendment was a
part of the complete
abolishment of slavery.
3. The law can be enforced if
voting is denied.
4. The law had little to no effect
for a generation due to
illiteracy.
5. Some people though the law
should include women.
16th Amendment, Income Tax
By Myles Kullander
1913
Summary:The 16th amendment is income tax.
Passed July 2nd, 1909 and ratied February Third
1913, The Rule of Apportionment requires the
government to tax states on population, not
personal wealth. This was all part of the
Progressive Era, and affects both big and small
states. Income tax taxes on population, because if
they taxed on states wealth, a small state that was
wealthy would have to tax people more because
there arent as many people as other states. The
amendment was passed so that taxing was fair for
all people, and states. In 1895, federal income tax
was declared unconstitutional because it was
based on personal wealth and property owned.

Historical Context: This amendment
was created because federal income
tax was declared unconstitutional by
supreme court because it went against
the rule of apportionment, (requires
government to tax each state on
population). The federal income
taxation was changed to go with the
rule, not against it.
Essential Elements:
Government must tax according to state population according to the rule
of Apportionment

Cant tax based on personal wealth or property

Progressive Era
The Pollock v. Farmers Loan & Trust Co brought
the federal income tax to supreme court, because
it went against the Rule of Apportionment
Article one Section two of the Constitution states that taxes
must be based upon population and not personal wealth or
property
Historical Content
The 17th amendment or Proper Election of
senators was passed because there were
problems related to the election of senators. In
1911, the House of Representatives passed
Ho u s e Re s o l u t i o n 3 9 p r o p o s i n g a
constitutional amendment for direct election of
senators. Over a year later, the amendment
was sent to the states for ratication. On April
8, 1913 three quarters of the states ratied the
proposed amendment, and ofcially it became
the 17th amendment.
Summary
The 18th amendment is the Proper Election of
Senators and was passed on April 8, 1912. The
18th amendment was passed in the United
States to make everyone have a equal chance
at being elected. It was passed because the US
is a Democracy and in order to have
Democracy you have to vote for your
representatives senators or presidents. This
amendment is important because it involves
everyone in the US that can vote.
17th Amendment
Proper Election of Senators
Essential Elements
1)Before this amendment, Senators were
chosen by state legislatures
2)The 17th amendment is in Article 1 Section
3 of the Constitution
3)There are 2 Senators in each state (100
total)
This badge represents that every vote counts and you
have the right to vote for your senators
This is where the Election of Senators is held
Project by:
Jake
McAlister
19th Amendment:The Womens Right to Vote

Eleanor Parker 1920

Summary
The nineteenth Amendment is womans
right to vote. This this amendment was
ratied in August 181920.To achieve this
right required a lengthy struggle. In 1800
woman organized petitioned and picketed to
win the right to vote.It took them decades to
accomplish this purpose. Before the
amendment was informed women women
were not considered citizens. Between 1878
when the amendment was rst introduced in
congress, champions of voting rights to for
woman worked tirelessly for this freedom.
After working tirelessly for this freedom the
congress passed the amendment so that
women could vote.
The women are standing up to the women's right to vote.
By protesting for women's freedom to vote.
Essential Elements
1.) Women worked tirelessly for this right.
2.) In 1800 the woman organized a petition to achieve the 19 amendment.
3.) Before this19th Amendment women were not considered citizens.
This symbol also represented the women
that they could be strong and could vote.
Historical Context
The woman right to vote was created
so that women had the freedom to
vote and choose what she wants to
do.The purpose of this amendment
was to give the women choices for
voting and choosing who should be a
leader . What led to this was more
than a century woman had organized
to demand the right to vote. since
t hey represent ed ve% of t he
population it was hard to justify not
including them.
1920
19th Amendment
Womens Right to Vote
Summary: The 19th amendment allowing
women to vote in America was ratied on
June 4, 1920. Previously, women were not
allowed to take place in any vote involving
the government. They passed thi s
amendment because all women have the
right to express their thoughts about who
should lead them. Womens vote is crucial
because 51% of America is female.
Tennessee provi ded the necessary
approval with one vote.
Historical Context: This amendment was created due to
all the protests held by mostly women in from 1848 to
1919. During the 1850s the 14th and 15th Amendments
were passed. The 14th Amendment extends the
Constitutions protection to all citizens and denes
citizens as male, and the 15th guarantees black men
the right to vote. Some women suffrage advocates saw
this as an opportunity to push lawmakers for truly
universal suffrage. By 1890, the suffragists approach had
changed. Instead of arguing that women deserved the
same rights and responsibilities as men because women
and men were created equal, the new generation of
activists argued that women deserved the vote because
they were different from men. They argued that their
difference could be a political virtue. Starting in 1910,
some states in the West began to extend the vote to
women for the rst time in almost 20 years. Utah and
Idaho had given them the right in the end of the 19th
century. Still, the more established Southern and Eastern
states resisted. World War I (1914-1918) gave the
women the nal push they needed. The womens war
effort proved they were just as patriotic a men and worthy
of voting.
Women show bravery by
protesting in the streets for
womens suffrage against
police ofcers.
Women protesting for
womens suffrage march
down streets bearing signs.
1. Womens vote is crucial because women make up half of America.
2. The amendment was passed due to the constant protest lead by mostly women.
3. The amendment allows women to vote on any governmental election or vote.
19th Amendment 1920
Womens Right to Vote
By: Grant Browne
These women are protesting to
achieve their goal of voting.
This is the actual19th Amendment.
Summary:
My Amendment is the 19th Amendment known
as Womens Right to Vote . Before this
Amendment was passed women were denied
the right to vote, which brought about the
womens suffrage movement. Some states prior
to the adoption of the 19th Amendment
permitted women to vote and to hold ofce This
Amendment was passed on June 4, 1919 and
was ratied August 18, 1920. An interesting fact
is that Tennessee provided the necessary
approval by one vote.
Essential Elements
1. Except for some states only men were allowed to vote.

2. Women believed if that men could vote they could vote as well.

3. Tennessee provided the necessary approval by one vote.
Historical Context:
The women of the US have been ghting
for their right to vote since the 19th
century. During this time the womens
suffrage movement was created. Women
began to protest by, marching, lobbying,
and lecturing to achieve their goal. Many
Americans believed that this was an
extreme change to the Constitution.
20th Amendment
The Lame Duck Amendment
1932
Summary: The 20th Amendment was ratied on March, 2nd, 1932. It was
made by Sen George W. Norris, of Nebraska. It is also Known as the Lame
Duck Amendment It was made to get rid of the very long period of time in-
between when the old o!cial had an unsuccessful re-election, and when
the newly elected o!cial moved in and started working. This Amendment
was passed because after the elected o!cial had a unsuccessful re-election
there would be no work done until the newly elected o!cial moved in, in
January. This Amendment was made because the new president used to
have to move in during March which took too much time. That is why the
20th Amendment was passed.
Historical Context: The amendment was made
because there was too much time in between
when the old president leaves and the new
pr esi dent j oi ns. The pur pose of t hi s
amendment was, to change the date when the
new president started working. During the time
t hat t he 20t h Amendment was made
transportation was getting better. At rst people
had to use horses to travel around but soon
when cars were made it was easier to move to
Washington because of the new transportation.
The new transportation made moving faster so
the 5 months you needed to move turned into 3
months because it became easier to get there.
That helped the amendment get ratied.
When an ofcial is not doing anything
productive, after their unsuccessful re-
election, this is usually referred to as a Lame
duck session.
The Model T was the new mode of transportation. This made it easier for
the new president to move to Washington. So they made the time to move
shorter in this amendment because of the easy mode of transportation.
Essential Elements:
1. The Twentieth Amendment is also known as the Lame Duck Amendment.
2. The Twentieth Amendment was made to get rid of the ve months, the new president was provided to move to Washington, and
providing the president with three months instead
3.This Amendment was passed because faster transportation was being made making it easier to move
By: Mamo Nash
1951
22nd AMENDMENT
SUMMARY
This amendment declares that no person
who has held the office of president or has
acted as president for more than two years of
a term to which the vice-president was
elected President shall be elected to the
office of president more than once. No
person shall be elected to the office of
president more than twice. This amendment
was never officially made until 1947, but it
was an unwritten rule for all presidents
because of how George Washington decided
to only serve for 2 terms.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
1.This amendment
prohibits the president to
run for more than 2 terms.
2. This unofficial rule was
never officially an
amendment until 1951.
3 If the vice president
takes over as president
for two or less than two
years then the term he
takes over as does not
count towards his 2 terms.
Presidents can only run for 2 terms
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Many people asked George Washington to run for
more than 2 terms, but he said that presidents
should be limited to only 2 terms. All presidents
after him followed his example, except for
Franklin D Roosevelt, because of World War 2. All
of the congressmen started to say that this
unspoken rule had to be a amendment. In 1951,
t hi s unspoken rul e f i nal l y became an
amendment.
George Washington-the
rst president of America
and the one to set the
example of only running
for two terms
Franklin D. Roosevelt -
t he onl y presi dent i n
American history to run for
more than two terms
The 23 Amendment
Presidential Vote for D.C
1960
D.C Flag
Cartoon of voting in D.C.
In 1960 the 23rd amendment
was passed. This allowed D.C.
residents to vote in the
presidential election.
previously the D.C residents
were not allowed to vote in
the Presidential election. In
1964 D.C. residents voted in
their first Presidential
election. The residents voted
for Lyndon Johnson and Barry
Goldwater in 1964. However
D.C. residents remain the
only U.S. citizens who pay
federal income taxes and have
no voting representation in
congress. Historical Context: The 23rd
Amendment allowed the people of
D.C. to vote in the Presidential
Elections. D.C. residents remain
the only U.S. citizens who pay
federal income taxes. D.C.
residents have no voting
representation in congress. The
D.C. residents voted in there first
presidential election in 1964.
Essential Elements:
1. D.C. citizens allowed to vote in 1964.
2. D.C. residents remain the only U.S. citizens who
pay federal income taxes.
3. D.C. citizens have no voting representation in
congress
Jackson Bewley
The 24th Amendment
Abolition of Poll Taxes
1964
Summary:
The 24th Amendment also known as the
Abolition of Poll Taxes, was ratied on January
23rd, 1964. This was passed to let numerous
citizens to vote because not everyone in the US
could vote, also each state had a different fee on
voting. The amendment was passed by Congress
in 1962 and ratied in 1964. Along with literacy
tests and durational residency requirements, poll
taxes were used to keep low-income (primarily
African American) citizens from participating in
elections. The Supreme Court has since struck
down these discriminatory measures, opening
democratic participation to all, regardless of
ones ability to pay. Also the Congress shall have
power to enforce this article by appropriate
Historical Context:
This amendment had let many
americans vote when they had turned
the proper age at the time for national
voting. Without this amendment you
would have to pay a ne to vote for your
country. Many americans thought that it
was unfair for someone to pay to vote
for their country. Most people didnt
have the money to vote mostly because
they were poor, african american, or
slaves. So on January 23rd, 1964 this
amendment was created to let anyone
eligible of age to vote for free.
Many Americans that wanted to vote when
they were at the age of 21 but they would
have to pay a fee depending where they
were, most people would pay with checks.
Many Americans protested to get the
Amendment that we know today as the 24th
Amendment as the New Amendment.
Essential Elements:
1. This Amendment lets any american of age to vote for free.
2. This Amendment allows America to have fair votes.
3. Tax is not going to be as expensive as it used to be.
Duke Wirth
Summary:
The Amendment, Abolition of Poll Tax
was made to abolish poll taxes which
was passed in 1964. Poll taxes were a
tax that made people pay to vote
which were used to keep low income
Americans in the U.S unable to vote.
This was a signicant time because
this was the end of Segregation and
the end of the Civil Rights Act. It was
passed so every citizen could vote
without a fee.
1964
Historical Context:
The 24th Amendment abolished poll
taxes at this time because it was the
end of Segregation and it was the end
of the Civil Rights Act. It was passed
because some citizens thought that is
was unfair to have to pay a fee to vote
and it should be a regular everyday
right.
Essential Elements:
1. Abolishes poll taxes
2. Allows every citizen to vote
3. Passed in 1964
4. Passed when segregation and the
Civil Rights act ended
5. May not be denied by U.S. or any
State by reason to pay poll tax
Cole Herrington
People rallying in the streets to protest poll
taxes.
In 1964 people made pins to protest poll
taxes.
Abolition of Poll Tax: 24th
Amendment
25th Amendment
Ratied: 1967
Dylan Cummins
The Twenty-fth Amendment PRESIDENTIAL DISABILITY AND SUCCESSION
was passed in order to decide what happens when a president or Vice
President dies, is removed from ofce, or resigns. The ofce is temporarily lled
by the Vice President if the President is no longer in ofce for one of the
reasons above. If something happens to the Vice President then the President
will nominate a new Vice president. This Amendment was Passed by Congress
July 6, 1965. Ratied February 10, 1967.
Essential elements
1.Used when a president dies or resigns

2.Vice president is next in line

3.If there is no Vice president the president nominates a new on.

4.This amendment has been invoked 6 times since ratication
In 1955 Dwight D. Eisenhower had a heart attack and was in terrible health, he made
an agreement with Richard Nixon (Vice President) that he would give all of his
presidential powers to him. This was done under no constitutional authority since
there was not an amendment saying this is what happens when a president has
issue such as this. When Congress found out knowing this had happened in many
earlier cases they decided to make a law that states what happens during
circumstances such as this.
Gerald R. Ford being sworn into ofce as Vice
President of Richard Nixon by Supreme Court
Chief Justice Warren Burger. He was the rst
person to use the 25th amendment.
The 25th Amendment answers the question of who will ll
the presidential spot in absence of the elected president.
Summary:
My amendment was the the 26 amendment that is the right of citizens of
the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote and
they shall not be denied or cancelled by the United States or by any
State on account of age. The amendment helps 18 year olds and older
vote for what and who they want. The amendment was passed because
18 year olds during the Vietnam war were getting drafted to go ght and
they could not vote because they were not old enough. They thought it
was unfair to get drafted to go to war and not get a chance to vote for it.
So they asked if they could vote and then that led to the 26 amendment.
The 26 amendment affects and helps the people between 18 and 20
years old who were not allowed to vote and wanted to vote. The
amendment was passed faster than any other amendment because
everyone agreed that it was unfair that people could be sent to war
Historical Context:

It was created because 18 to 20 year
olds were being sent off to Vietnam
in the 1960s and early 1970s to ght
for their country without the right to
vote. The war was unpopular so they
did not want people to be sent off
and die when only 18 years old. The
purpose was to x an unfair part of
the constitution and make it just, by
letting people who were eligible to
go to war vote for what and who they
want.
Essential Elements:
1.They changed the voting age from 21 and older to 18 and older.
2.The Vietnam war commotion lead to the 26 amendment
3.It was the fastest passed amendment because every states majority agreed with
the statement .
4.old enough to ght, old enough to vote!! ( remember this and you will know
what the 26 amendment is about)
A group of people are protesting
to help try to end the war so the
18 years do not have to ght
anymore.
26th amendment 1971
The right for 18 year olds to vote

Davis Laibe
These kids are protesting for their right of 18
years old to vote, and lower down the voting
age.
26! Amendment
Right # Vo$ at %e Age & 18
July, 1 1971
Summary: %e 26! amendment is right # vo$ at age 18. %e
amendment a'ows young adults # vo$ at age 18 for leaders of
!eir sta$ and coun(y. At !e )me of !e cons)tu)on !e law used
# be !at you had # be 21 years old in order # vo$. %e law was
*na'y approved and !ere was !e right # vo$ for !ose 18 and
older. %e law also changed !e age limit # 18 in sta$s #o. %e
Vietnam War +1954-1975, had a huge impact on !e decision of !e
amendment. %e amendment was passed by congress on March 23,
1971 and ra)*ed on July 1, 1971. %is was !e quickest ra)*ca)on
of an amendment in his#ry
If young adults are old enough
# *ght !en !ey should be able #
vo$!
His#rical Con$xt: %e Vietnam War brought up !e
subject !at if young adults at !e age of 18 were old enough
# *ght for !eir coun(y and risk !eir lives and possibly
die for America, !en !ey should have !e right # vo$ for
!e leaders who send !em # war.
18 year olds have to
fight in Vietnam.
Essen)al Elements:
1. %e law used # be !at you had # be 21 # vo$.
2. %e amendment gave !e right for ci)zens who were 18 # vo$.
3. %e Vietnam War made a big impact on !e approval of !e amendment.
4. Young adults !ought !at if !ey could *ght for !eir coun(y !en !ey
should should be able # vo$.
Trevor Peyronnin
James Madison
introduced
27th
amendment to
Constitutional
Convention,
died before it
could before
ratified.
1992
27th Amendment:
Congressional Compensation
By:Caroline Pitalo
The hand represents
Congressional
Compensation (arm
could symbolize
Congressional
Compensation).
Represented because it
is Congress taking their
money back and created
an amendment stating
this new law.
Summary:
The 27th Amendment states that a
congress member cannot raise pay during
current session of The 27th amendment
prevents congress from raising their own
pay during current session, but they may
raise their pay for the next session.
Congress raising their pay was an issue
because the money that was given to them
as a raise was the governments money.
Historical Context:
The 27th Amendment was created to prevent
Congress members from raising their pay
during term. They did not want this to happen
because the Congress would continue to raise
their pay and take the governments money.
Legislators are more likely to increase pay
without personal take in vote. The
amendment was introduced by James
Madison, in 1789 which is significant because
it was not ratified until 1992. Instead of being
the 12th amendment it turned out to be the
27th because of the large gap.
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and
Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall
have intervened. written - James Madison
Essential Elements:
1. 27th amendment was introduced by James
Madison, in 1789, but fully ratified in 1992.
2. Congressional Compensation states congress
members can not raise their pay during current
term.
3. The dates are significant because the large
gap where this subject was put aside because
the congress then did not see use for this law.
Legislative
Branch Seal is
used to mark
passed laws.