What was the historical event leading to the fifth amendment?

Question

More specific. I was thinking maybe an event or possibly even a court case.

Answer 1

The American Revolution.

The Founding Fathers wanted to protect basic rights of the accused. They objected to many of the ways they were treated by the British in matters of crime and justice.

The Fifth Amendment was written to protect an accused from abuses witnessed throughout history, including in the early days of Colonial America. The founding fathers wished to ensure that, while trials could be conducted and guilty criminals punished, innocent men and women wouldn't suffer by mere government whim. Sufficient evidence of criminal conduct would have to be presented to a Grand Jury; the government couldn't repeatedly try an individual on the same charges until he or she was either convicted or financially exhausted; it couldn't demand answers from the accused, but rather would have to provide sufficient evidence to convict without such testimony; and it couldn't simply snatch property it wanted or needed from its owner.

Answer 2

The drafting of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, or are you looking for a more specific answer?

Answer 3

Summary executions of revolutionaries, without due process