APUSH and English: A Match Made in History Hye Jee Kim

On the the fateful day of October 2, 1789, George Washington sent the proposed amendments we now know as the Bill of Rights to the 13 states for ratification.

Mr. Cain will be so proud of me.

In 1789, the hot-button issue was the ratification of the Constitution. The infant country was split. Federalists vs Antifederalists. The federalists saw the need for a strong central government, and the antifederalist thought that that would create a tyranny. The compromise was a Bill of Rights, a set of Constitutional amendments that guarantee the protection of certain rights. These include the freedoms of religion, press, speech, assembly and petition. Many states only agreed to ratify the Constitution with the understanding that a Bill of Rights would soon follow, which they did on this October day.

This event has a massive amount of historical significance. Without it, the United States of America as we know it would not exist. Other than McDonalds, laziness, and a Congress that isn't too great at efficiency, the US is known for it's freedom (cue bald eagle screech). Whether it be the hotly debated right to bear arms or the generally embraced right to not have to deal with quartering, the Bill of Rights is what guarantees them under the Constitution. In 1789, no one could have predicted the scale of influence this would have. The Bill of Rights would be interpreted by lawmakers, judges, and civilians, and basically shape much of US civilization.

So thanks, George Washington, for sending the proposed Bill of Rights to the 13 states. You, sir, did more to change the world in one afternoon than I probably ever will. Sorry.