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 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.

GEORGE MASON (1725 – 1792)

The Constitution of the United States of America was signed
by 39 delegates present at the conclusion of the Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia. Supporters of the document waged
a hard-won battle to win ratification by the necessary nine out
of 13 U.S. states.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt (above) signed into law the Social Security  Act on August 14, 1935. Press photographers snapped
pictures as FDR, flanked by ranking members of Congress, signed
into law the historic act, which guaranteed an income for the unemployed  and retirees. FDR commended Congress for what he considered to be a “patriotic” act.   

        
         

According to History. com, on this day in history, July 30,
1956, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution declaring
"IN GOD WE TRUST" to be the national motto of the United
States.

The same source noted. passing in both the House and the
Senate unanimously and without debate, the resolution
replaced "E pluribus Unum," which had existed before as
a de facto official motto.        

President Coolidge stands with four Osage Indians at a White House ceremony.

On this day in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge signed into
law the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship
to all Native Americans born in the United States, many
of whom had served in the armed forces during World
War I.

While the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution defines a citizen as any persons born in
the United States and subject to its laws and jurisdiction,
the amendment had previously been interpreted by the
courts not to apply to Native peoples.

Calvin Coolidge (July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933)