Murray, Hallie

A hot button issue that is in the news daily, the right to bear arms is one of Americans' most provincial and cherished rights. There are more guns per capita in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Through engaging and enlightening text, the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms, is studied in-depth. Analyzing the varying views on the amendment, students will get the opportunity to learn about the different interpretations of the amendment. The history of the amendment, as well as its creators, supporters, and detractors are studied thoroughly. Primary source documents allow readers to examine the amendments themselves and come up with their own conclusions. Full-color and black-and-white photographs help students better understand the Bill of Rights and its creation. Further reading and sidebars encourage students to explore the amendments further, and a glossary helps students master new vocabulary.

By entrusting a jury of ordinary and impartial citizens to decide the outcome of lawsuits, the Seventh Amendment removed the power from judges, who could potentially be swayed and corrupted. It levels the playing field, guaranteeing that each citizen's voice and interests carry as much weight as that of a wealthy individual, major corporation, or powerful government. The historical context that motivated the drafting and passage of this amendment is discussed. Contemporary, straight-from-the-headlines cases illustrate the relevance of the Seventh Amendment and its application to cases involving consumer protection, environmental cleanup, medical malpractice, and corporate wrongdoing.

The Founding Fathers created the Eighth Amendment to protect the people from the kind of abuse they had seen while the colonies were under British rule, but to this day, Americans continue to argue about what exactly cruel and unusual, excessive bail, and excessive fines mean. Through full-color and black-and-white photographs, engaging text, and primary sources, students will examine the events leading up to the Eighth Amendment's creation, how it has been defined throughout the centuries, and how it is interpreted today. In addition, informative sidebars and a further reading section with books and websites encourage students to explore the people and events of this time in history in more depth.

The Tenth Amendment says that the powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution belong to the individual states and their residents and can not be taken away from them. Like the Ninth Amendment, the Tenth Amendment's wording is vague and abstract and often debated, especially when applied to such important contemporary issues as the drinking age, gun ownership, health care, environmental standards, and controlled substances. Through full-color and black-and-white photographs, engaging text, and primary sources, students will learn why this amendment was created, how notions of states' versus federal rights have changed throughout history, and how this ongoing conflict between state and federal government affects their lives.