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The Bill of Rights | Primary Source Essentials

Description

How does the Bill of Rights protect individual freedoms and limit government power? In this episode of BRI’s Primary Source Essentials, explore the history and purpose of the Bill of Rights. Learn how the first ten amendments to the Constitution safeguard freedoms like speech, religion, and the right to bear arms, while ensuring protections such as due process and trial by jury. Discover the debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists that shaped these foundational amendments, and how they continue to protect natural rights, civil liberties, and state powers.

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Congress and the Constitution

How did the Founders intend the legislative branch of government to operate? Through primary source analysis and engaging activities, examine the purpose of a legislature, the design of the U.S Congress, its powers, its history and the reality of how Congress works today with your students through these lessons.

The Constitution

The Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states, in order to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government. It created a federal system with a national government composed of 3 separated powers, and included both reserved and concurrent powers of states.

The Constitution Explained | A Primary Source Close Read w/ BRI

How is the U.S. Constitution structured? In the newest episode of our Close Reads: Explained series, Kirk tackles the Constitution and explains its biggest concepts to you. What does the Constitution of the United States teach us about the government it defines?

Essay: The Constitutional Convention

During the “critical period” after the American Revolution, many were concerned that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate for the states to grow commercially and economically. The Confederation Congress announced a meeting to revise the Articles of Confederation, but not everyone was convinced that the Articles needed revision—or even that the goals of the Convention were admirable. Divisions emerged among the delegates regarding centralized power, executive power, representation, and slavery.