Period 7-Caluri

Sixth Amendment

Essential Questions:

1. What issues prompted the creation of the sixth amendment?

There are a few issues that prompted the creation of the sixth amendment. At the time, people who were completely innocent of a crime were being held in jail awaiting their trial. Due to the unfairness of those actions, the idea of the sixth amendment was sparked. It was also was created the basic rights of people even when they are on trial. It also was created so that even when people cannot afford a lawyer, the government must provide them with one. Many times poor farmers would be put on trial and would have no money to afford any type of lawyer. This ultimately gives them no way to defend themselves creating an utterly unfair trial. NB

2. What impact did your amendment have on society at that time?

The sixth amendment had many huge impacts on society at the time. For example, it improved the court system astronomically. It made the court system fair and just. It made people more confident and comfortable in the court system due to the fact that it fixed so many issues that were happening. NB

Definition: Everyone has the right to a fair and speedy trial with a jury or lawyer. This amendment also states that the person who is on trial can face their prosecuted and that a person cannot be put on trial for the same crime twice. NB

Question 1:Was the sixth amendment considered fair at the time?

Yes, the sixth amendment was considered a fair amendment. The reason for this is that the sixth amendment actually ensured people's rights even when they are being accused of a crime. It was also made so that people were not treated unfairly when on trial. NB
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Sixth+Amendment

Question 2: The Sixth Amendment was ratified December 15th of 1791. It was ratified quickly because everyone was united in wanting a more fair justice system. Under British law Americans suspected of committing a crime could be left in jail for years awaiting trail only to be found not guilty and released.
http://www.government-and-constitution.org/bill-of-rights/6th-amendment.htm

Question 3: Why was the sixth amendment created?

The sixth amendment was created in order to protect the rights of the US citizens. Under the sixth amendment, people cannot be held in jail waiting for a trail to long. This amendment also allows people not to be prosecuted for a crime more then once. NB
http://libertyfirstfl.org/2013/06/why-do-we-have-the-sixth-amendment/



Question 4: The Sixth Amendment was ratified positively changed the way of life for people in the 1800's. They were given the right to to a fast and fair trial with a lawyer. People were happy their rights were being guaranteed. They were no longer fearful of being held in jail awaiting trial. They also could not be tried for the same crime twice.
http://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendments/amendment-vi

Question 5: What problems did the sixth amendment solve?

This amendment's main purpose was to protect the rights of the people. During that time, the sixth amendment did not solve any problem, but it did reassure people that they would not be treated unfairly. NB
https://www.aclu.org/blog/speakeasy/importance-sixth-amendment-right-counsel-capital-cases

Question 6: The Sixth Amendment did not arouse any problems. It prevented possible abuses of the criminal justice system so people were happy with the rights that the Sixth Amendment guaranteed them. It protected them from being put into jail for a crime they did not commit. It also provided them a lawyer even if they could not afford one.
http://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendments/amendment-vi

Question 7: How long did it take to ratify the sixth amendment?

The sixth amendment was proposed on September 25, 1789 and ratified on December 15, 1791, so it took about three years for this amendment to be put into use. It went into use fairly fast due to the fact that most of the US citizens agreed with the proposal of the sixth amendment. NB
http://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendments/amendment-vi

Question 8: The Sixth Amendment applied not only to federal but state prosecutions. Most court trials occurred at the state level. This caused a wide expanded of the 6th Amendment's reach.
http://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendments/amendment-vi

Question 9: According to the sixth amendment, do jury verdicts have to be unanimous?

Yes, the sixth amendment states that, all juries must be unanimous. This is part of having a fair trial. If juries were not unanimous, the trail would be considered unfair due to the fact if they were not unanimous juries could be bribed or persuaded to pick one side rather than the other. NB
http://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendments/amendment-vi

Question 10: The Sixth Amendment applies to all citizens of the United States. When a citizen breaks the law and they must go to court. This amendments affords the accused rights to a speedy trial and public trial by an impartial jury of the state and the assistance of Counsel of state for their defense.
http://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendments/amendment-vi

Facts and links:
1. The sixth amendment was one of the first amendments created, due to the fact that it was part of the Bill Of Rights.
2. Although the sixth amendment states that everyone has the right to a speedy trial that does not mean it will necessarily be over quickly. It just means that a person will not be waiting for months and month in jail for their trial to begin.
3. According to the sixth amendment, when someone commits a crime, his or her trial must be in the same area as the crime was committed.
4. It ensures that innocent people are not put into jail for a crime that they did not commit.
5. This amendment was quickly ratified due to the fact that most people agreed upon the topic of it.
6.The sixth amendment was created by James Madison.

http://www.annenbergclassroom.org/page/Sixth-Amendment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIWxLoOLLpc

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