Why Is the Incorporation of the U.S Bill of Rights so significant?

Question

There are many theories that help us better understand our constitution and the law and help us figure out what it really means. Why is it so important for the Bill of rights to apply not just federal government but state government as well?

Answer 1

Because the original draft of the constitution did not take into consideration basic rights of the individual.

Businessmen and wealthy slave owners came first, then everyone else.

The bill of rights attempted to fix this injustice.

Businessmen, however, still come in first in the eyes of the law.

Answer 2

First of all, understanding the Constitution means you recognize that the first ten amendments were ratified, not incorporated. They were ratified to balance off the enumerated powers given to the newly created government in Articles I through III. The first eight of those amendments dealt with enshrining individual rights free of interference from that newly created Federal government. The Ninth and Tenth amendments did the same for the States who, individually and collectively, created that Federal government.

Answer 3

Are you kidding? Freedom of speech? Freedom of the press? Right to a jury of your peers? Speedy trial? The right not to have troops stationed in your house? Warrants? Simply put: no Bill of Rights, no freedom, and therefore no real democracy.