Which of the following is a true statement about the Bill of Rights?
A. It was supported strongly by the Federalists.
B. It prevents the federal government from violating citizens' rights.
C. It protects citizens from their state governments.
D. It gives U.S. citizens very limited rights.
B. It prevents the federal government from violating citizens' rights.
The correct answer is B: It prevents the federal government from violating citizens' rights.
The Bill of Rights is the collective name given to the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments were ratified in 1791 and are intended to protect individual rights and limit the power of the federal government. Thus, option B is the true statement as it accurately reflects the purpose of the Bill of Rights.
To determine which of the statements is true about the Bill of Rights, let's break down each option and analyze it:
A. It was supported strongly by the Federalists.
The Federalists, who supported the ratification of the United States Constitution, were initially skeptical about the need for a Bill of Rights. They argued that the Constitution itself already provided protections for individual rights. Eventually, the Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights as the first ten amendments to the Constitution in order to appease the Anti-Federalists who sought explicit guarantees of individual liberties. Therefore, statement A is not true.
B. It prevents the federal government from violating citizens' rights.
This statement is accurate. The primary purpose of the Bill of Rights is to protect individual rights and limit the power of the federal government. The first ten amendments outline specific rights and protections that the government must respect, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to a fair trial.
C. It protects citizens from their state governments.
Initially, the Bill of Rights only applied to the federal government and did not directly restrict state actions. However, with time, many of the rights protected in the Bill of Rights have been extended to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This process is known as incorporation, and it ensures that the states also respect the fundamental rights outlined in the Bill of Rights. Therefore, while the Bill of Rights primarily safeguards against federal government violations, it also provides protection against certain state government actions. Statement C is partially correct.
D. It gives U.S. citizens very limited rights.
This statement is not true. The Bill of Rights provides U.S. citizens with a range of important rights. These rights include freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition (First Amendment), the right to bear arms (Second Amendment), protection against unreasonable searches and seizures (Fourth Amendment), the right to a fair and speedy trial (Sixth Amendment), and protection against cruel and unusual punishment (Eighth Amendment), among others. These rights are considered fundamental to individual liberty and play a central role in American democracy.
In conclusion, the true statement about the Bill of Rights is B. It prevents the federal government from violating citizens' rights.