Contributor: Brian Anthony. Lesson ID: 11490
Did people everywhere always have the freedoms outlined in the U.S. Bill of Rights? Any student of history knows people have been (and still are) oppressed. How would the BOR look if you wrote it now?
We should really appreciate having a Bill of Rights. What do you think life was like before the Bill of Rights? Do you think people had any rights that were protected by the government?
Take a look at this article, Law in the Middle Ages, by Simon Newman, courtesy of The Finer Times. As you read, reflect on the following questions:
One of the fascinating — and sometimes terrifying — lessons of history is that governments and their leaders easily abuse power.
Some very smart people began to think a few centuries ago about how better to limit that power. Oddly enough, the tools they decided upon were a pen and paper!
Let's see how the situation of law and power evolved from the grim and brutal days of the Middle Ages to the U.S. Bill of Rights.
Present your timeline to your parent or teacher. Then, reflect on the following questions and discuss:
Now that you have an overview of the history of civil liberties and the development of human rights, continue on to the Got It? section to take a look at some of the specific attempts to preserve rights for the people against their government through time.