M2 Assignment_ Constitution and Rights

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Unitek College, Fremont *

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POLI413A

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Political Science

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Oct 30, 2023

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M2 Assignment: Constitution and Rights Rebecca Beirne Unitek College Political Science-413A Professor Caldwell October 12, 2023 The United States Constitution is a significant document that established a

Beirne 1 centralized government through three federal branches whilst uniting the states by a governing power. This document defined the nation at a time when human rights were not a basic right for all people, as all people were not seen as being equal. Moreover, whilst older nations were being ruled over by divine rights through their reigning monarchies, America forged a new and democratic path. The United States Constitution allowed the popular vote to draft laws and elect representatives dictated by the people. The amendment process made a way for the Constitution to be a living and breathing piece of history that could only be changed by the influence of the people and the ratification of the states. The Constitution’s insistence that individual rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press were crucial to the pursuit of happiness and allowed society to be categorically refashioned. In doing so, America would take its place as a tremendously efficacious power throughout the world (Young, 2017). Whilst reading and learning about the state of Nevada’s constitution, I was pleased to learn that this state was the first to adopt the 15th Amendment, which opened doors for citizens to vote regardless of race, color, or previous history of servitude. At a time when slavery was still a hot button issue (not only throughout the United States, but also around the globe), Nevadians progressively decided to accept the 15th Amendment as law and to make it a part of the state constitution. Before becoming a state in the union, Nevada’s constitution was sent via telegraph, which at the time was the most expensive telegraph ever sent. Nevada is one of only nineteen states within the United States that has kept the initial draft of their state constitution. Nevada became a state on October 31, 1864. Over 150 years have passed and the state constitution has remained intact! Think of how much our country has changed. Through it all, Nevada has remained

Beirne 2 bound to its original founding principles (Bullard, 2022). From its inception, the United States has fought to preserve the rights of all people. The notion that human rights are what people deserve for simply being born is a ubiquitous birthright, fundamental to all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, nationality, or any other status (Armitage, 2020). A well-known phrase spoken by Thomas Jefferson and taken directly from the Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” All people have the right to live their lives without outside interference and as they deem fit. People are also given free will to live and make choices according to their desires. Happiness may be pursued by every individual. We have the right to a free and fair world. Proper order must be in alignment so that all people may enjoy the freedoms in America and throughout the globe (Athie et al, 2018). To make certain that everyone is treated with respect, the focus of human rights is equality for all. Equality is the cornerstone for peace and freedom within our global community. “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes,” Thomas Jefferson (Fellman, 2017). References:

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Beirne 3 Armitage, D. (2020). The Declaration of Independence in World Context. OAH Magazine of History , 18 (3), 61–66. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25163686 Athie, A., & Mahmoud, Y. (2018). Human Rights and Sustaining Peace . International Peace Institute. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep17513 Bullard, F. L. (2022). ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THE STATEHOOD OF NEVADA. American Bar Association Journal , 26 (3), 210–236. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25712696 Fellman, D. (2017). The American Creed. Prairie Schooner , 21 (2), 231–243. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40623875 Young, E. A. (2017). The Constitution outside the Constitution. The Yale Law Journal , 117 (3), 408–473. https://doi.org/10.2307/20455798