Happiness In America

Thomas Jefferson believed in the equality of all people, and that “they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, among these is the pursuit of Happiness.” (DI) Jefferson used “Happiness” because America is supposed to be a place where individuals come and live the life they want to abundantly. Happiness can be perceived differently; such as, some individuals just want to love one another in peace, others want to raise their children in a Democracy, and a few people move for the ability to get an education. The vague word of happiness gives the opportunity for the people to decide for themselves whatever value to fill that void. Jefferson also valued the people should have power to govern themselves and replace anything …show more content…
The people wanted these rights stated because of the breaches the people in power had been executing. There are ten natural right that they people have claim to. The first was the rights of free speech, free press, freedom of religion, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to petition government for a redress of grievances. (Amend. Ⅰ) The right to bear arms and to have a militia is the next right. (Amend. Ⅱ) The third amendment gives the people the right to their property by not allowing any soldiers to quarter without their consent. (Amend. Ⅲ) The fourth amendment gives people security for the persons in the house and a warrant must be present to invade. (Amend. Ⅳ) The fifth give the right to a grand jury indictment without the premise of double jeopardy. (Amend. Ⅴ) The right to a speedy trail, impartial jury, information of charges, ability to confront and compel the witnesses, and the right to counsel were all rights given to the people. (Amend. Ⅵ) If the damage is more than 20 dollars the person has a right to a trial by jury and no overturn of finding of fact by a judge. (Amend. Ⅶ) The next unalienable right is no excessive bail, fines, and no cruel or unusual punishment. (Amend. Ⅷ) Any other recognized unnamed right of the people is granted by the ninth amendment. (Amend. Ⅸ) The last of the Bill of Rights was any right that was not given to the federal government …show more content…
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State because of sex.” (Amend. XIX) They wanted to have the rights to their own reproduction systems. The Supreme court cases of Griswold v Connecticut, Eisenstadt V Baird and Roe v. Wade were brought before the judge and jury in this matter. In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Court identified a constitutionally protected right to privacy, which the court reasoned prohibited states from denying birth control to married couples. (381 U.S. 479 1965) Eisenstadt v. Baird is a United States Supreme Court case that established the right of unmarried people to possess contraception on the same basis as married couples. (405 U.S. 438 1972) Roe v. Wade ruled unconstitutional a state law that banned abortions except to save the life of the mother. (410 U.S. 113 1973) The Court ruled that the states were forbidden from outlawing or regulating any aspect of abortion performed during the first trimester of pregnancy, could only enact abortion regulations reasonably related to maternal health in the second and third trimesters, and could enact abortion laws protecting the life of the fetus only in the third trimester. Even then, an exception had to be made to protect the life of the mother. (Roe v. Wade 410 U.S. 113