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Government Enforcement, Crime And The American Population Essay

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On July 4, 1776, thirteen colonies declared independence from English rule, eventually forming the United States of America (“American History,” 2016). Built upon a unique platform of autonomy, the United States provides citizens with freedoms not present in other countries. In order to preserve such freedoms, the Constitution of the United States was enacted in 1797, outlining an array of rights and privileges afforded to all citizens of the country (“American History,” 2016). However, as in any society, crime and abuse pervaded the peace of the nation, continuing to date. Methods of public, social control span deep into the history of the United States, in an effort to combat wrongful, illicit activity, or crime. With the first official police force established in 1838, law enforcement has grown rapidly within the nation, employing millions (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2015). Nevertheless, with the evolution of law enforcement, crime and the American population have also evolved. In the present-day United States, fear and unrest regarding personal rights and freedoms are overwhelmingly prevalent, often creating controversy between the public and the police. Under democratically-inspired legal restraints, notably the Bill of Rights, the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution ensure the personal rights and freedoms of American citizens against certain police-related matters. The Fourth Amendment to the United States

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