Individual liberty, the right to bear arms, and keep government out of the business of violating civil issues. A proper government, according to Jefferson, was one that prohibited individuals from assaulting other individual rights, but also ensured that it did not diminish liberty in its quest for regard, power, or law (Ellis, 1998). Jefferson and his followers were more Statist in their views; they opposed a strong central government, linking it with the authoritarian regime they opposed in England. For instance, in The Articles of Confederation, the large, more populated (urban) states held more power. Jefferson supported the Constitution, but did not support Hamilton in his quest for a strong central bank, central control over taxation, and above all, the State being able to usurp (his view) individual rights in order to better the Union. Essentially, it comes down to the Constitutional interpretation...

(First Amendment to the United States Constitution).
Within the United States Constitutional Convention, there was much discussion regarding which rights should be elaborated and guaranteed under the final document. Looking at it historically, Amendment 1, guaranteeing the rights of religion, free speech, assembly, and to petition the Government regarding grievances were a direct result of the events that led to the American Revolution. British rule, at the time, had an established State religion, censorship of ideas that were counter to the King and Crown, rules on