Choose one topic for your initial main post and address one or more of the listed questions.

As reviewed in Week 1, the U.S. Bill of Rights includes ideas from the Magna Carta (1215), the English Bill of Rights (1689), and the Declaration of Independence (1776). Collectively, these ideas are known as civil liberties. When the founders gathered at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, they debated the nature of government power and whether it would be possible to unite the 13 states into one great nation, under one national government while still preserving the individual states and their governments. This balance is crucial to securing the civil liberties of American citizens.

Topic 1: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Debate:

After the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended and the proposed U.S. Constitution was submitted for ratification, public debates raged about how well the U.S. Constitution protected the civil liberties of the people. The Anti-Federalists were so concerned they refused to support ratification without the addition of the U.S. Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments. James Madison and the Federalists argued the U.S. Constitution already protected civil liberties and the addition of stated protections was not necessary. Why did they think this? The Anti-Federalists thought that the U.S. Constitution did not do enough to protect the rights of the states and the people. Why did they think this? In your opinion, which viewpoint turned out to be right and why? Provide at least one example. Which viewpoint do you think is more important as it affects your life today and why? Provide at least one example.