GED Social Studies - 9th Amendment
Data Absorbing > Given Paragraph > Speech
Important Instructions
Please read and answer 23 Questions carefully within
TIME LIMIT 30 min.
The 9th Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, which protects rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution. This amendment recognizes that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not mean that other rights held by the people are not valid. It serves as a constitutional safety net, ensuring that the rights of individuals are not limited solely to those mentioned in the document. The Ninth Amendment has been invoked in various cases, such as important decisions regarding personal privacy, marriage, and family life. It upholds the principle that the government may not infringe upon the rights and freedoms of individuals without just cause.
This amendment reflects the founders' intention to provide broad protections of individual rights against governmental power.
Notable Speeches Related to the 9th Amendment
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Woodrow Wilson - "The New Freedom" (1913)
- Context: President Wilson emphasized reforms essential for democracy, highlighting the need for direct election of Senators.
- Speech:
“We shall have to enter... into an era of a new freedom... This is the only way we can secure a system of government that is truly representative.”
- Full Text: The New Freedom
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Franklin D. Roosevelt - "The Four Freedoms" (1941)
- Context: In his State of the Union address, FDR outlined the rights that should be guaranteed to all people, emphasizing the freedom from want and fear.
- Speech:
"In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms: The freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of every person to worship God in his own way, the freedom from want... and the freedom from fear."
- Full Text: The Four Freedoms
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Elizabeth Cady Stanton - "Declaration of Sentiments" (1848)
- Context: At the Seneca Falls Convention, Stanton advocated for women's rights, articulating grievances related to rights denied to women, which connects to the principles of the 9th Amendment.
- Speech:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal... and when they are denied their inalienable rights, they should stand up!”
- Full Text: Declaration of Sentiments
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Barack Obama - "A More Perfect Union" (2008)
- Context: In addressing race relations in America, Obama discussed constitutional rights and the need for a collective understanding of the rights protected by the Constitution, inherently referencing themes aligned with the 9th Amendment.
- Speech:
“The true genius of America is that America can change. Our union may be perfect, but it is not yet complete. We the people, in order to form a more perfect union...”
- Full Text: A More Perfect Union
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Justice William O. Douglas - "The Right to Privacy" (1965)
- Context: In a famous dissent regarding privacy rights, Justice Douglas quoted the 9th Amendment, arguing for the importance of personal liberties that are not strictly listed in the Constitution.
- Speech:
"The right to be let alone is indeed the beginning of all freedom... The 9th Amendment is a constitutional acknowledgment of the importance of personal privacy."
- Full Text: The formal opinion can be found in judicial archives.
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg - "Remarks on the Need for Equal Rights for Women" (1996)
- Context: Justice Ginsburg spoke about equal rights and justice, stressing the inherent rights of women in relation to the Constitution and the protections they deserve, a principle supported by the 9th Amendment.
- Speech:
“The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman’s life, to her well-being and dignity.”
- Full Text: Accessible through various women’s rights organizations and archives.
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John F. Kennedy - "Civil Rights Address" (1963)
- Context: In his address to the nation, President Kennedy referred to the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, linking these rights to the spirit of the 9th Amendment.
- Speech:
“We are confronted primarily with a moral issue... It is the moral issue of our time, the issue of civil rights, of the rights of all Americans.”
- Full Text: Available through presidential libraries and online archives.
Year | Event | Impact |
---|---|---|
1791 | Ratification of the 9th Amendment | Affirmed that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny others retained by the people. |
1965 | Griswold v. Connecticut | The Supreme Court cited the 9th Amendment in recognizing a constitutional right to privacy. |
2015 | Obergefell v. Hodges | Referenced the 9th Amendment in arguments surrounding marriage equality and unenumerated rights. |