Congress Approves the Bill of Rights
An early manuscript of the Bill of Rights with handwritten notes.
What Happened?
When the Constitution was first written, it didn’t include a bill of rights. That shocked people like George Mason, who refused to sign the document without protections for individual freedoms.
James Madison, who originally thought a bill of rights was unnecessary, soon realized that the new government wouldn’t survive politically unless citizens were promised specific protections.
On June 8, 1789, Madison introduced a series of amendments in Congress. He hoped they would calm critics and strengthen support for the Constitution.
After months of debate, Congress settled on 12 amendments and approved them on September 25, 1789. These amendments were then sent to the states for ratification.
The proposals included guarantees of free speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press, as well as protections against unfair trials and government overreach.
Not all 12 amendments made it into law. The states ratified 10 of them in 1791, and those became the Bill of Rights. One of the rejected amendments was about congressional pay—it wasn’t ratified until 1992, more than 200 years later!
The Bill of Rights took inspiration from earlier documents, like the English Bill of Rights of 1689 and Virginia’s Declaration of Rights, blending old ideas with new democratic ideals.
For everyday Americans, the Bill of Rights meant real protections: you could worship freely, publish your ideas, gather with others, and speak against the government without fear of punishment.
Over time, the Bill of Rights became the cornerstone of American democracy, influencing landmark Supreme Court cases and shaping the balance of power between citizens and government.
Looking back, it’s clear that September 25, 1789, wasn’t just about paperwork in Congress—it was about giving Americans a voice, a shield, and a promise of liberty that still matters today.
Why It Matters
The Bill of Rights gave Americans confidence in their new government by guaranteeing freedoms and protections many feared would be lost under federal power. It laid the groundwork for civil liberties that people still defend, debate, and expand upon today.
?
Why do you think the Founders originally left a bill of rights out of the Constitution?
Which amendment in the Bill of Rights do you think affects your life the most today?
Why was ratification of the Bill of Rights necessary to secure public trust in the Constitution?
How does the Bill of Rights continue to shape Supreme Court cases and debates today?
Do you think more rights should be added to the Constitution in the future? Why or why not?
Dig Deeper
A quick overview of the rights guaranteed by the first ten amendments.
A look at why the Bill of Rights was left out of the original Constitution and how it was added later.
Crash Course explains the difference between civil rights and liberties, and how the Bill of Rights has evolved.
Related
The First Amendment: America’s Blueprint for Freedom
The First Amendment protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. It’s the foundation of American democracy—but also a source of constant debate and interpretation.
The Bill of Rights: What Is It—and What Does It Actually Do?
The Bill of Rights wasn’t added to the Constitution because everything was going great, it was added because the people didn’t trust the government. And they had every reason not to.
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: The Battle That Built the Constitution
One side feared chaos. The other feared tyranny. Together, they gave us the Constitution—and the Bill of Rights.
Further Reading
Stay curious!