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)

On December 28, 1975, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger
Staubach (above) threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew
Pearson in the waning seconds to beat the Minnesota Vikings
in a playoff game, 17-14.

Afterward, Staubach calls the miraculous touchdown a "Hail
Mary," thus cementing the term for a  desperation pass in the
sports lexicon.

"It was a play you hit one in a hundred times if you’re lucky,”
Staubach told reporters after the game in Bloomington,
Minnesota. "I guess it’s a Hail Mary pass. You throw it up and
pray he catches it."

Said Dallas coach Tom Landry: "Our only hope was to throw
and hope for a miracle."

Wide receiver Drew Pearson catches the ball.