Notes

WASHINGTON, D.C. In the United States, people can freely express their opinions about the government. They can openly practice any religion they choose—or none at all. Not every nation allows for these freedoms. In the United States, these rights are guaranteed in a paper called the Bill of Rights.

America's early leaders signed the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791. One hundred and fifty years later, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set aside that date as Bill of Rights Day. Roosevelt encouraged Americans to take time each year to celebrate the freedoms that come with living in the United States.

What Is the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights has three purposes. It provides Americans with basic rights. It helps courts determine if a person's rights have been broken. Finally, it allows Americans to express how they feel about religion and the government. The government cannot take Americans to court because of what people believe.

The Origins of the Bill of Rights

The idea for a bill of rights is much older than the United States. In 1689, Britain drew up its own bill of rights. It required the king or queen to ask Parliament before taking certain actions. It made Britain more democratic. How? Members of Parliament are chosen by the people, so giving Parliament power was a way of giving power to the people. People in England also had certain individual rights. The English who arrived in America in the 17th and 18th centuries expected that they would have certain rights in their new home.

In the 18th century, many Americans began to believe that America should be free from Britain. Why? Britain had fought wars on American soil. It expected Americans to house British soldiers. It had also made Americans pay taxes. As British colonists, Americans had no vote in Parliament. This meant that they had no voice in the British government, so the English bill of rights meant little to them.

Americans began to form the basis for a new nation. In 1774, leaders from each colony signed a Declaration of Rights. This paper said that Americans should have all of the civil liberties guaranteed under British law, along with some new ones. In 1775, the Revolutionary War began. Each colony formed its own state government. In Virginia, officials drafted a state Declaration of Rights. This guaranteed greater freedom than any society had ever imagined. It did not allow government searches. It also called for freedom of the press and freedom of religion. Other states wrote their own Declarations of Rights.

The Creation of the Bill of Rights

In 1787, early American leaders wrote the U.S. Constitution. They sent it to the states to be voted on. It limited government power, but it did not guarantee most individual rights. Many states said that they would not accept the Constitution without a bill of rights.

Not everyone favored a bill of rights. One group argued that there was no need for one. The Constitution granted only certain powers to the government. It was understood that all other power belonged to the people. Other leaders said that individual rights should be stated outright. Many of the states agreed to the Constitution but asked that a bill of rights be considered afterward. The Constitution became official in 1789.

The First United States Congress met that same year. Lawmakers agreed that they should adopt a bill of rights. Congress chose some men to draw up a bill of rights. It was a list of amendments, or additions, to the Constitution to outline individual rights. The committee wrote 17 amendments. Congress accepted 12 of these and sent them to the states to be voted on. Adding to the Constitution requires support from three-fourths of the states. Ten of the amendments received this support and became the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Americans live by the Bill of Rights, whether they realize it or not. The Bill of Rights preserves day-to-day freedoms for Americans. It helps courts determine and reject laws that threaten these freedoms. It is a cornerstone of democracy.