Starting in 1776, the American Revolution served as a launching pad for a new nation. The abuses of monarchical Britain, predominantly lack of representation and inability to effect change, shaped the ideals of the fledgling nation. Because of the American Revolution, there was radical social and economic change. The most prominent change occurred politically, its ideals leading eventually to the First Amendment. This amendment grants the citizens of the United States the right to freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances, or the right to make a complaint to, or seek the assistance of, one 's government, without fear of punishment or reprisals. Despite this, groups such as: women, slaves, Native Americans, felt little change in many areas.
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The first right, freedom of religion is rooted in the Statutes at Large of Virginia of 1786. They outlined the rights of its citizens to worship, or not not to worship at all, whomever they please without fear of persecution. Document B, an excerpt from the newspaper the Pennsylvania Packet from 1779, highlights the Americans’ passion for freedom of speech when the writer openly condemns Britain during the revolution. The desire for the right to petition the redress of grievances can be seen in Document G, a letter from Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson about Shay’s rebellion. When the letter was written, the Articles of Confederation were still under effect. Under the Articles, the economy was disjointed- all the states all had different systems of taxing and monetary systems. The Articles of Confederation gave no power to the central government to tax or to raise a militia. In response, Shay’s Rebellion called to attention the need for a stronger government. Soon after, the Constitution was written with these specific
The first right, freedom of religion is rooted in the Statutes at Large of Virginia of 1786. They outlined the rights of its citizens to worship, or not not to worship at all, whomever they please without fear of persecution. Document B, an excerpt from the newspaper the Pennsylvania Packet from 1779, highlights the Americans’ passion for freedom of speech when the writer openly condemns Britain during the revolution. The desire for the right to petition the redress of grievances can be seen in Document G, a letter from Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson about Shay’s rebellion. When the letter was written, the Articles of Confederation were still under effect. Under the Articles, the economy was disjointed- all the states all had different systems of taxing and monetary systems. The Articles of Confederation gave no power to the central government to tax or to raise a militia. In response, Shay’s Rebellion called to attention the need for a stronger government. Soon after, the Constitution was written with these specific