Jonah Patel
In 1791, the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution were made, guaranteeing specific freedoms and rights. These amendments, together known as the Bill of Rights, were made to protect the rights of citizens in relation to the newly established government under the Constitution. The amendments were proposed to prevent tyranny by the central government, with the memory of British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution still fresh in the minds of many.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Freedom of religion | First Amendment |
| Freedom of speech | First Amendment |
| Freedom of the press | First Amendment |
| Freedom of assembly | First Amendment |
| Right to keep and bear arms | Second Amendment |
| No housing of soldiers in private homes | Third Amendment |
| Protection from unreasonable search and seizure | Fourth Amendment |
| Protection from self-testimony and being tried twice for the same crime | Fifth Amendment |
| Protection from seizure of property under eminent domain | Fifth Amendment |
| Protection from tyranny by the central government | Ninth Amendment |
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What You'll Learn
The Bill of Rights
When the Constitution was approved in 1789, some people felt that it did not protect some basic rights and that the Constitution should be changed to protect those rights. On December 15, 1791, changes were made to the Constitution. These first 10 changes, or amendments, guarantee specific freedoms and rights; together they are called the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights includes some of the most basic freedoms and rights that we think of today in the United States.
The Ninth Amendment also served as a reminder to the justices that they could not limit Americans' rights to only those explicitly listed in the Constitution. It specified that the Constitution's mention of specific rights did not "deny or disparage others retained by the people".
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Freedom of religion
The Constitution was approved in 1789, but some people felt that it did not protect some basic rights. On 15 December 1791, changes were made to the Constitution in the form of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights included the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, which guaranteed specific freedoms and rights.
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. This means that people are free to practice whatever religion they choose, or no religion at all. They are also free to express their religious beliefs, and to assemble with others who share their beliefs. This amendment was particularly important to people who had fled religious persecution in Europe, and to those who had experienced the tyranny of the British government during the Revolution.
The Ninth Amendment, ratified in 1791, further specified that the Constitution’s mention of specific rights did not “deny or disparage others retained by the people”. This means that even if a right is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, it does not mean that the government can limit or deny that right. For example, the right to privacy or the right to family relations.
The Bill of Rights was designed to protect citizens' rights in relation to the newly established government under the Constitution. The amendments were proposed to prevent tyranny by the central government, and to ensure that individual citizens were protected from violations of their civil rights.
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Freedom of speech
The US Constitution was approved in 1789, but some people felt that it did not protect some basic rights. On 15 December 1791, changes were made to the Constitution in the form of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights included 10 amendments that guaranteed specific freedoms and rights.
The First Amendment included freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. This meant that citizens were free to express their opinions without fear of government censorship or punishment. They could also practise the religion of their choice and assemble peacefully with others to discuss their views.
The right to freedom of speech is not absolute, however. There are certain limitations, such as when speech incites violence or hatred, defames or harasses others, or infringes on copyright or privacy rights. In these cases, the government may step in to protect the rights and safety of individuals and the wider community.
The US Supreme Court has played a significant role in interpreting and upholding the right to freedom of speech. In several landmark cases, the Court has ruled on what constitutes protected speech and has set precedents that continue to shape the understanding and application of this right today.
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Freedom of the press
The First Amendment to the US Constitution, adopted on 15 December 1791, includes freedom of the press. This freedom protects the right to gather information and report it to others. While at the time of ratification in 1791, the free press clause addressed newspapers, it now applies to all forms of newsgathering and reporting, independent of medium. Television, radio and online journalists are protected even though they don’t use printing presses.
The nation’s founders believed a free press to be one of the basic freedoms necessary for a new, democratic society. They acknowledged that belief in state charters and constitutions, and ultimately in a set of amendments, the Bill of Rights, to the US Constitution that guaranteed certain rights of citizens and states. The First Amendment permits information, ideas and opinions without interference, constraint or prosecution by the government.
The First Amendment prevents Congress from making laws that abridge the freedom of the press. The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.
One of the earliest cases concerning freedom of the press occurred in 1734. In a libel case against The New York Weekly Journal publisher John Peter Zenger by British governor William Cosby, Zenger was acquitted and the publication continued until 1751. At that time, there were only two newspapers in New York City and the second was not critical of Cosby's government. In 1776, the second year of the American Revolutionary War, the Virginia colonial legislature passed a Declaration of Rights that included the sentence: "The freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic Governments."
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Freedom of assembly
When the Constitution was approved in 1789, some people felt that it did not protect some basic rights and that the Constitution should be changed to protect those rights. On December 15, 1791, changes were made to the Constitution in the form of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights includes some of the most basic freedoms and rights that we think of today in the United States.
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of assembly, among other rights. This means that citizens have the right to gather peaceably for any lawful purpose, including protests, demonstrations, and political rallies. This freedom is essential for a democratic society, as it allows citizens to express their views and opinions collectively and to influence public policy and government decisions.
The right to assemble is a fundamental aspect of a free and open society. It enables citizens to come together and engage in open dialogue, exchange ideas, and participate in collective action. This right is particularly important for minority groups, who may use assembly as a means to have their voices heard and to advocate for their interests and rights.
The freedom of assembly is also crucial for the functioning of civil society organisations, community groups, and other associations that work to address social issues and promote the common good. By assembling, these groups can plan and coordinate their activities, as well as build solidarity and strengthen their impact.
The protection of freedom of assembly in the First Amendment helps to ensure that citizens can exercise their right to influence the political process and hold the government accountable. This right was established to prevent tyranny and protect citizens from government overreach, as the memory of British violations of civil rights before and during the Revolution was still fresh in the minds of many Americans.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791 to protect citizens' rights in relation to the newly established government under the Constitution. The 10 amendments were designed to prevent tyranny by the central government, which was a concern for many people at the time.
The Bill of Rights includes some of the most basic freedoms and rights that we think of today in the United States. These include freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly.
The Bill of Rights added specific protections for citizens' rights that were not originally included in the Constitution. For example, the Ninth Amendment states that the mention of specific rights in the Constitution does not "deny or disparage others retained by the people".
