What is the most important in the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights is important for many reasons, but especially because it protects the rights of each American citizen. These 10 amendments describe some of the most quoted rights that American citizens proudly proclaim. Although the Bill of Rights was created as an extension of the United States Constitution, it is a unique translation of moral and philosophical rights. The Bill of Rights also confirms the early American colonists’ core principles of personal liberty and human equality.

The Bill of Rights is important for other reasons too. In addition to securing certain rights for the population of the United States, it also demonstrated how changes to the Constitution could be made and reaffirmed the notion that the power truly was in the hands of the American populous. This precedent opened the door for other amendments to be made over the history of the country. Some of these other changes led to the abolishment of slavery, equal protection for all American citizens, and voting rights for women.

Leaders of the Continental Congress

For many Americans, the Bill of Rights is considered an outline of the inalienable rights some consider God-given. These rights represent the life the colonists desired to give their posterity, which they felt had been violated by their previous government.

Were Your Ancestors in America when the historic Bill of Rights was ratified?

The Where Am I From? activity on FamilySearch can show you where your ancestors are from on an interactive map, and you can filter the results by century to refine your search.

To try it out, go to FamilySearch.org, and click Activities. Then choose Where Am I From? and sign in. Above the interactive map, you’ll see a Time Line button. Click it, and adjust the time line to show results from 1700 to 1800. This will allow you to see where your relatives lived during the time that the Bill of Rights was written!

 Note: If you are new to FamilySearch, you will need to add ancestors to your tree to see where they are on the map. Good news! FamilySearch has an easy way to add your ancestors quickly if they are already in the shared FamilySearch Family Tree.

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The Where Am I From? feature is interactive and designed to help you explore your family tree in a new and imaginative way. Zoom in on your country of focus, click on your ancestor’s names to read more about them.

To learn more about the Bill of Rights and more reasons why we have it, keep reading.

What is the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, which was ratified in 1791. At that time, the idea of a bill of rights was part of a bitter battle long before it was drafted. Many felt the United States Constitution was enough for the new government of the new country called the United States. Others felt the United States Constitution gave the government too much power over individuals and something more was needed. These 10 amendments are what resulted:

The 10 Rights in the Bill of Rights—Simplified

How the Bill of Rights Was Added to the Constitution

George Mason - Father of the Bill of Rights

The United States Constitution clearly limited the power of each individual state, but many felt it didn’t fully address limits on the government’s power over individuals.

The Bill of Rights played a significant role in obtaining the approval of the United States Constitution. The United States Constitution wasn’t ratified until an agreement was reached that amendments to address personal rights would be added soon after. In order to break away from Great Britain, the United States Constitution needed to address individual's personal rights and freedoms.

George Mason and the anti-federalists were instrumental at the Constitutional Delegation of 1787 in advocating for these rights to be added. They fought for the rights of free speech, peaceful assembly, and the right to worship. The colonists believed they had the natural rights to life, liberty, property ownership, and the right to gather to defend themselves. These natural rights were incorporated into the United States Constitution later as the Bill of Rights.

What is the Difference Between The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights?

The Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights are different documents with different purposes. The Declaration of Independence was designed to break away from Great Britain and establish the core principles of the United States as a country. The United States Constitution provides a rule of law for the government to accomplish those principles and establish the government. The Bill of Rights protects individual freedoms, limiting the power of the government.

Signing of the Declaration of Independence

These 3 documents are as important to the American people today as they were to the colonists. They represent what is best about America. They are symbols of the liberty Americans hold dear as they strive for success and are equal in the eyes of the law, because all men are created equal.