Author: Jack Miller Center
Introduction
I. Philosophical Foundations of Rights
What is a Right?
The Idea of Natural Rights
Social Contract: Hobbes
Social Contract: Locke
Natural Rights
Foundations of Rights: Hobbes, Locke, and the Declaration of Independence
Utilitarian Critique of Rights
II. Historical Foundations of Rights
English Bill of Rights, 1689
Massachusetts Body of Liberties, 1641
Declaration of Rights and Grievances of the Stamp Act Congress, 1765
Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, 1774
Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776
Massachusetts Declaration of Rights, 1780
Ratification of the Constitution by Massachusetts, 1788
III. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists and the Bill of Rights
Anti-Federalists on the Bill of Rights
Federalists on the Bill of Rights
IV. First Amendment: Freedom of Religion
Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin
The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for Causes of Conscience, Roger Williams
A Letter Concerning Toleration, John Locke
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, 1777
Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson
A Sermon Addressed to the Legislature of the State of Connecticut at the Annual Election in Hartford, May 7th, 1823
V. First Amendment: Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Speech: Milton, Mill, and Franklin
Frame of Government of Pennsylvania, 1682
Trial of Peter Zenger, 1733
1. Declaration of Rights and Grievances of the Stamp Act Congress, 1765
On Liberty, John Stuart Mill
VI. Second Amendment
The Federal Farmer, Letter XVIII
Virginia Declaration of Rights
VII. Third Amendment
Quartering Act of 1765
Debate in the Virginia Ratifying Convention
VIII. Fourth Amendment
Second Treatise of Government, John Locke
Against Writs of Assistance
IX. Fifth Amendment
Leviathan on Self-Incrimination
X. Sixth Amendment
Magna Carta on Rights of the Accused
XI. Seventh Amendment
The Federal Farmer, Letter XV
XII. Eighth Amendment
English Bill of Rights of 1689
XIII. Ninth Amendment
Federalist 84
The Federal Farmer, Letter XVI
XIV. Tenth Amendment
Federalist 9
Collaborative Curriculum: Bill of Rights Copyright © by Jack Miller Center. All Rights Reserved.
