In December of 2021, local students entered into essay contests for the Bill of Rights Day Celebrations. New Horizon Christian Academy student, Lillian Crowe, was a first-place winner in her sophomore class. The following is her essay:
The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights – by Lillian Crowe
Lillian Crowe
The hope, love, and thought that our Founding Fathers had for this country show how this nation was founded on thoughtfulness and consideration. The Constitution and The Bill of Rights were made by these Founding Fathers so that this country would have an organized government to keep its citizens feeling comfortable. The citizens of this newfound United States would find this comfort by knowing that they have the right to make their own voluntary decisions.
This very thought of the freedom of the people is what made the first section of The Constitution; the Preamble. “We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Prosperity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.”
The Preamble, as previously stated, gives a quick synopsis about what The Constitution will entail throughout the entirety of its content. The Constitution is divided by Articles and Sections; an Article may contain more than one Section. The Bill of Rights is a considerable passage in The Constitution that lists the original Ten Amendments, or Rights, that we the people have as American citizens. These documents are what make America this beautiful and sought-after place of development.
Although all of the amendments are important to the foundation of this country, the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights (ratified December 15. 1791) affects my life on a daily basis. The First Amendment states as follows: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
As a Christian, this amendment stays in my heart. This amendment in not only for the religious, but for the entire people of America. The thoughtfulness that came from these Founding Fathers is absolutely astonishing, for they cared so much about the people and their rights to be human. The freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, right to peaceably assemble, and the right to oppose the wrongdoings of the government – all of these segments of the First Amendment have impacted my life greatly. Without the freedom of speech, I wouldn’t be able to stand up for what I believe in or stand up for those who are not able to. If we didn’t have the freedom of the press, we couldn’t have Bibles, and the people would never know the truth that can be found in the precious Word of God. When we are in church, we are peaceably assembling as a congregation of believers; without the First 
Amendment, we couldn’t have the opportunity to worship God the Father. Without the free exercise of religion, we couldn’t Praise our Lord or worship His Name. For these reasons, I am so grateful for the Founding Fathers of this United States of America.
The next amendment that speaks to my heart is the Seventh Amendment (ratified December 15, 1791) which states, “In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of common law.” I believe that if we didn’t have this amendment, the government of this country would never succeed. Without a fair trial by jury, a man that could be proven innocent wouldn’t not have the change to speak on his behalf on the situation.
Let’s think back to January of 2018. There was a man by the name of Joseph Tigano, who in 2008, pleaded not guilty to a marijuana growing during a court trial. The man requested a speedy trial and was denied and given six years of jail time instead. I am not saying whether this man was guilty or not, but his rights had been infringed upon. This not only infringed his seventh amendment right but his sixth amendment right as well. This is not what the founding fathers would have wanted.; they would have wanted this man to have his rights upheld by the jurists and court officials. This amendment is found to be very helpful to not only those who are on trial but for those who want to know how this justice system works and to appreciate the thought yet again, that our Founding Fathers put into this document.
The last amendment that I will mention is the tenth amendment (ratified December 15. 1791). The tenth amendment states as follows. “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” This ensures that the people will always have a say 
when it comes to situation concerning them. People want to have a voice, especially if it affects their way of life. The Constitution has a specialized way of doing everything to ensure that it is done well and fair, and for that, I am grateful.
We the people of this United States want to be heard, listened to, and ensured of the rights that are stated in the United States Constitution. Without this Constitution, we, as a united people, would never find justice in this world full of destructive societies.
Through the writing of this essay, I have realized that I am so blessed to live in a country that was founded on love, hope, and thoughtfulness for not only the people, but for God.
