Evolution of Individual Rights :: essays research papers

Evolution of Individual Rights Prior to the inherent ConventionReligious freedom is one main reason for the founding of our country. The concept of ideological and apparitional freedom remains as strong today as it was at the time of the founding of the United States. The founding fathers left their homelands for a country, which promised freedoms intumesce beyond those, available to the masses during the times of early U.S. immigration. Representatives at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia (1787) intentionally avoided making strong didacticss regarding religion cod to a firm belief that religious provisions were unnecessary to refer religious liberty. This omission was not taken lightly by six-spot states, who went on to propose amendments guaranteeing religious freedom. In fact, two states refused to ratify the archive until a Bill of Rights, including religious freedom, was adopted. In 1789, a compilation of modifications and amendments were assembled, which i nclude the statements we collectively call the First Amendment to the United States Constitution (Alexander and Alexander, 1998).The pertinent arm of the First Amendment that refers to religion simply states "Congress shall make no faithfulness respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The first go away of the statement is commonly known as the "establishment" clause, while the second part is known as the "free exercise" clause. Though intended to be clear, concise and decisive in its presentation of the two clauses, the potential for soulfulness interpretation based on individual biases and ephemeral passions continues to allow for passionate argument to this day. It is the balancing of these two clauses that makes the analysis of religious freedom questions unwieldy for teachers, administrators and legal professionals.