History of the Amendment
Process
Academic Civics
Mr. Blough
Constitutional History
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Despite 27 amendments made, the amendments
follow several historical patterns:
Bill of Rights #1-10 (late 1780s)
Civil War Amendments #13-15 (1860s)
Progressive Era #16-20 (early 1900s-1930s)
Modern Amendments #23-27(1960s-present)
Bill of Rights Era
 Created Amendments #1-10
 Drafted by the anti-federalists, who believed the Constitution
needed a safeguard against abuses by the national government
 Thomas Jefferson – supporter of Bill of Rights
 Many of the protections in Amendments 1-10 stem from
British injustices during the colonial period
Civil War Amendments
 After the Union wins the Civil War, the rights of
former slaves needs to be addressed:
 13th Amendment – makes slavery illegal in US
 14th Amendment – defines citizenship as “anybody
born in the US or naturalized”
 Equal Protection Clause – state governments must protect
people equally
 Applies the Bill of Rights to the state governments
(incorporation)
 15th Amendment – African Americans given the right to vote
Progressive Era
 Conditions in the late 1800s and early 1900s force
reformers to make changes to working conditions,
political fairness, and other reforms to improve society
 16th Amendment – Gives Congress the power to levy national income
tax
 17th Amendment - Senators are elected directly by the people, not by
state representatives as originally mandated in Article I
 18th Amendment - makes alcohol consumption/production illegal
 19th Amendment – Suffrage to women (right to vote)
 20th Amendment – President’s term begins in Jan. after Nov. election
Modern-Era Amendments
 22nd Amendment – Presidential terms maxed at 2 (8 yrs. total)
 23rd Amendment – People in Washington DC get the right to
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vote
24th Amendment – Abolishes poll tax
25th Amendment – Explains who succeeds the president in the
event of resignation, death, etc.
26th Amendment – voting age: 18 years
27th Amendment – Pay raises for Congress can’t occur until
after they’re reelected
For the test tomorrow:
 Obviously, be sure to know the first ten amendments
 Also be sure to know the voting amendments (13,19,24,26)
 Know the limits on the freedoms in the Bill of Rights
 Civil vs. criminal cases – what’s the difference?
 Purpose of the Bill of Rights