Beginning with the definition of citizenship; a citizen is a participatory member of a political community. Citizenship is gained by meeting the legal requirements of a national, state, or local government. A nation grants certain rights and privileges to its citizens. In return, citizens are expected to obey their country 's laws and defend it against its enemies (Wasson).
Traveling back in time, where I consider the most profound example of true citizenship, the Roman Empire. Civis Romanus Sum, I am a Roman citizen. As a Roman citizen you are guaranteed certain privileges that to this day are still part of being a citizen of a country; voting, owning and inheriting property, freely travel throughout the Empire and have stature within the …show more content…
United States Revolution was more about individual rights and personal freedoms. Later amendments included specifically the right to vote, own property, seek elected office and protection under the laws of the land. The United States closely followed British common law on citizenship, the rule of place of birth, which basically gave a child born outside the United States, fathered by a citizen of the United States. The 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution serves as an explanation of citizenship. To wit, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." The 14th amendment guaranteed citizenship to those who were freed from slavery after the Civil War. It gave the rights of citizenship to the slaves who were born in the United States but whose parents were not (Wipple).
Thomas Jefferson stated it most precisely, "A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inferences." Who would disagree? Freedom of speech, assembly, press, petition and religion, are our most important freedoms but most importantly they limit the power of
Traveling back in time, where I consider the most profound example of true citizenship, the Roman Empire. Civis Romanus Sum, I am a Roman citizen. As a Roman citizen you are guaranteed certain privileges that to this day are still part of being a citizen of a country; voting, owning and inheriting property, freely travel throughout the Empire and have stature within the …show more content…
United States Revolution was more about individual rights and personal freedoms. Later amendments included specifically the right to vote, own property, seek elected office and protection under the laws of the land. The United States closely followed British common law on citizenship, the rule of place of birth, which basically gave a child born outside the United States, fathered by a citizen of the United States. The 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution serves as an explanation of citizenship. To wit, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." The 14th amendment guaranteed citizenship to those who were freed from slavery after the Civil War. It gave the rights of citizenship to the slaves who were born in the United States but whose parents were not (Wipple).
Thomas Jefferson stated it most precisely, "A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inferences." Who would disagree? Freedom of speech, assembly, press, petition and religion, are our most important freedoms but most importantly they limit the power of