The first Congress of the United States approved 12
amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and sent them
to the states for ratification.

The amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were
designed to protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens,
guaranteeing the freedom of speech, press, assembly,
and exercise of religion; the right to fair legal procedure
and to bear arms; and that powers not delegated to the
federal government were reserved for the states and
the people.

Influenced by the English Bill of Rights of 1689, the Bill
of Rights was also drawn from Virginia’s Declaration of
Rights, drafted by George Mason in 1776.

First page of an original copy of the twelve proposed
articles of amendment, as passed by Congress.

Following ratification by the state of Virginia, the first 10
amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known collectively
as the Bill of Rights, became the law of the land.

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, collectively
known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified following vigorous
national debate on this day in history, Dec. 15, 1791.

The passage came three-and-a-half years after the Constitution
was enacted to become the framework of the government on
June 21, 1788. 

The first Congress of the United States approved 12 amendments
to the U.S. Constitution, and sent them to the states for ratification.

The amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were designed to
protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens, guaranteeing the freedom
of speech, press, assembly, and exercise of religion; the right to
fair legal procedure and to bear arms; and that powers not
delegated to the federal government were reserved for the states
and the people.

Influenced by the English Bill of Rights of 1689, the Bill of Rights
was also drawn from Virginia’s Declaration of Rights, drafted by
George Mason in 1776.

The first Congress of the United States approved 12 amendments
to the U.S. Constitution, and sent them to the states for ratification.

The amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were designed to
protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens, guaranteeing the freedom
of speech, press, assembly, and exercise of religion; the right to
fair legal procedure, to bear arms; and that powers not delegated
to the federal government were reserved for the states and the
people.