Reading about the Author Bebe Moore Campbell:
6th Grade Students Learn about the Bill of Rights

Constitutional Rights:
First Amendment: People have freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the press, the right to assemble, the right to petition government.
Second Amendment: People have the right to form a militia and to carry weapons.
Third Amendment: People have the right not to have soldiers in one's home.
Fourth Amendment: People have the right to be protected against unreasonable search and seizure.
Fifth Amendment: No one can be tried for a serious crime unless indicted (accused) by a grand jury. No one can be forced to testify against herself or himself. No one can be punished without due process of law. People must be paid for property taken for public use.
Sixth Amendment: People have a right to a speedy trial, to legal counsel, and to confront their accusers.
Seventh Amendment: People have the right to a jury trial in civil suits exceeding $20.
Eighth Amendment: Excessive bail (money to release a person from jail), stiff fines, and cruel and unusual punishment are forbidden.
Ninth Amendment: There are so many basic human right that all of them could not be listed in the Constitution. This amendment emphasizes that the people remain the source of power.
Tenth Amendment: Powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution belong to the states or the people.

Stduent Responses:

The first amendment means the most to me. It means the most to me because I feel everyone should be able to pick their religion. They have a right to be free. A person should be able to say what they want to say about people and the government. They should be able to say something without getting in trouble.

I think the First Amendment is probably the most important amendment to me. I say this because I don't want to have to go to a certain church. And I also want to be able to say what I think.

I think one of the most important amendments for Bebe Moore Campbell would have been the first amendment too. And I say this because I think she wanted to be treated like a regular human being.

I think that the first amendment affected Bebe Moore Campbell's life the most. I think this because black people didn't get as much freedom as whites. They didn't get to picket, to assemble, or to petition government. They couldn't even sit where they wanted on the bus, they had to sit in back.

The first amendment is to have freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Also the right to assemble and the right to petition government. The reason I chose this one is because I think that you should have the freedom to share our feelings about something or someone, and not get in trouble for it. Or to protest when they do something you don't like. Also, you should be able to choose your religion and should not get in trouble.

I feel the amendment most important in my life is the first amendment. I think this because everyone has a right to say what they want about our government and believe what religion they want to believe. I believe in my own religion and we have freedom of speech.

I think the first amendment is the most important to Bebe Moore Campbell because of the freedom of assembling in groups. The blacks had legal protests and stated what they thought. That was also in the first amendment. Some blacks were protesting and got put in jail, but that was illegal because of the first amendment.

I think the 5th amendment is important because if you were really innocent but they just threw you in jail, you have the right to prove them wrong.

I feel the first amendment was the biggest impact on Bebe Moore Campbell's life. I think this because she was in the sixties as a kid. She protested for equal rights with her friends. That's why I feel that way.

Amendment One is most important. I feel this way because there are so many religions that people believe in that people should get to pick the religion they want to be. That's the same way it should be when people make a speech about something. If you don't like it you don't have to hear it.

I think that the first amendment is the best because you should have freedom and rights. The first amendment is very important. You can have whatever religion you want. You can write and say things bad about our government and not get in trouble. You have the right to assemble with a petition and not get in trouble. So it is really important.

I think the first amendment is the best for Bebe Moore Campbell because the blacks weren't allowed to go and speak in groups without getting arrested.

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