The Bill of Rights
After the Constitution was approved and implemented into the nation, some concerns started to come up. First, many people feared that many of their liberties, like freedom of religion, speech and press would not be respected. Many of them still had a fresh memory of what the British had done to the country during the Revolution. Another thing they feared was that with all the power the centralized government had, it would cause a type of dictatorship from the leaders of the nation.
This caused the demand of the "Bill of Rights" in which all of the liberties of every individual would be protected. Many of the states demanded the different amendments that would after make the Bill of Rights for their citizens and others had ratified the Constitution with the understanding that these amendments would be applied.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 articles that explained and ratified all the liberties that each individual in the country would be granted. The first two articles, which was regarding the number of constituents for every Representative and the compensation of Congress man, were rejected and are not part of the Bill of Rights. The remaining articles were in majority ratified by Congress, therefore creating the 10 amendments that represent the Bill of Rights and the liberties of the citizens.
It's also important to mention that through the years many amendments have been ratified and added to the Constitution, some of which were not ratified in the past but when they are discussed in Congress they can become part of the Constitution and of all the liberties that the people of the U.S. have.
This caused the demand of the "Bill of Rights" in which all of the liberties of every individual would be protected. Many of the states demanded the different amendments that would after make the Bill of Rights for their citizens and others had ratified the Constitution with the understanding that these amendments would be applied.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 articles that explained and ratified all the liberties that each individual in the country would be granted. The first two articles, which was regarding the number of constituents for every Representative and the compensation of Congress man, were rejected and are not part of the Bill of Rights. The remaining articles were in majority ratified by Congress, therefore creating the 10 amendments that represent the Bill of Rights and the liberties of the citizens.
It's also important to mention that through the years many amendments have been ratified and added to the Constitution, some of which were not ratified in the past but when they are discussed in Congress they can become part of the Constitution and of all the liberties that the people of the U.S. have.
Picture of the Bill of Rights, showing a brief summary of each of the first tenth amendments.
Taken from (http://www.lorraineprofeta.us/BillOfRights.jpg)
Taken from (http://www.lorraineprofeta.us/BillOfRights.jpg)
This picture shows all of the amendments that have been passed in the Constitution through the year.
Taken from (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/1484129/All-27-Amendments)
Taken from (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/1484129/All-27-Amendments)
Painting of the First Continental Congress.
Taken from (http://www.historywiz.com/galleries/contcongresspainting.html)
Taken from (http://www.historywiz.com/galleries/contcongresspainting.html)