AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.

LESSON 22.

Article V of the CONSTITUTION tells how the CONSTITUTION may be changed. (See Lesson 21.) Since 1789 there have been nineteen amendments added. How many more there will be, nobody knows. We do know, that if we, the people, want a change, we can have it in the proper way.

The first ten (10) amendments were added in 1791. They are sometimes called the "American Bill of Rights." Great Britain had treated the thirteen colonies very harshly and unfairly. The people who made the CONSTITUTION made sure that no centralized United States Government would ever be able to do as Great Britain had done. So, to-day, we can have any religion we want, freedom of speech and press, a right to meet together peaceably, and many other rights-all stated in the CONSTITUTION. (The first four amendments are shown in Lesson 11. Amendments 5, 6, 7, and 8, see Lesson 18. Amendments 9 and 10, Lesson 20.)

Amendment XI was added in 1798. This was passed to change part of Article III of the CONSTITUTION. No State can be sued by a citizen of another State. People who have claims against a State or the United States go to the "Court of Claims" for settlement. (See Lesson 17.)

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In 1804, Amendment XII changed the way of electing a President. To-day there are some people who think there should be another change. This time, to do away with the electors, and let the people choose a President by direct vote. (See Lesson 13.)

Amendments XIII, XIV, and XV came as a result of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln was President at the time of the war.

The Civil War lasted four years, 1861-1865, between the Northern States and the Southern States. The Southern States believed that the rights of the States were greater than the rights of the United States. They wanted to leave the Union, and make a new nation, calling it the "Confederacy." They also wanted to keep their slaves. But the North won the war. The Union of States was saved. The slaves were made free.