So at the first meeting of Congress, the first ten amendments—our American Bill of Rights—were adopted and in 1791 they were ratified by the States. Since then the Constitution has been rarely amended. In 1798 and in 1804 the eleventh and twelfth amendments regarding the courts and the election of the President were adopted. After the Civil War three amendments were adopted regarding the problem of the negro citizen. Since then we have added changes regarding the income tax, the election of United States Senators, and prohibition. The last amendment, dealing with the extension of the vote to women, was ratified by Tennessee as the thirty-sixth State on August 18, 1920. To-day then, our government is founded upon the Constitution made shortly after the Revolutionary War. It represents the aims and ambitions of the fathers of our country. They came to this land to be free. They suffered persecution. They threw off the yoke of the oppressor. They established a government of the people, by the people, for the people. The people selected the men who drew it up. They selected the men who amended it. Our task is to understand what it means, to obey it, and protect it. The lofty purpose of the fathers of the republic in establishing this, the first real government by the people, is expressed in these thrilling words: “_We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for the United States of America._” ELEMENTARY QUESTIONS 1. Why did the early settlers come to America? 2. From what countries did they come? Which countries were most important? 3. Why did they become dissatisfied with English rule here? 4. Why did they wish to unite? Name some of the earlier attempts at union. 5. When was the Stamp Act passed? What was it supposed to do? Why did the colonists object? 6. Why were the Articles of Confederation not satisfactory? 7. What was the meeting in Philadelphia in 1787? How were the representatives at this meeting chosen? How did they try to see that the representatives at this meeting actually represented the people? 8. How was the Constitution ratified by the people? In what way did they try to make it the actual will of the people? 9. When was our Bill of Rights passed? 10. What amendments have been added to the Constitution since 1791? ADVANCED QUESTIONS A. How did the makers of the Constitution guard against the abuses cited in the Declaration of Independence? B. How were the defects in the Articles of Confederation guarded against and remedied? C. What experience had the makers of the Constitution had which enabled them to prepare so successful a document?