Amendment to

de US
Constitution
Exploring the XXVII
Amendments
 BILL OF RIGHTS
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution were ratified on December 15, 1791, and form
what is known as the “Bill of Rights.”

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of

their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to
prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further
declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as
extending the ground of public confidence in the Government,
will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of
both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed
to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the
Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles,
when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid
to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.
 BILL OF RIGHTS
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution were ratified on December 15, 1791, and form
what is known as the “Bill of Rights.”

ARTICLES in addition to, and

Amendment of the Constitution of the
United States of America, proposed by
Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures
of the several States, pursuant to the fifth
Article of the original Constitution.
 BILL OF RIGHTS
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution was
introduced as part of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights was
proposed by James Madison, who is often referred to as the
"Father of the Constitution”, and it was introduced in the United
States Congress on June 8, 1789.

The introduction of the First Amendment was driven by the

recognition of the importance of protecting fundamental
freedoms and individual rights. The Founding Fathers sought to
ensure that the newly formed government would not infringe
upon these essential liberties. The First Amendment specifically
addresses five freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of
speech, freedom of the press, the right to assemble peacefully,
and the right to petition the government for a redress of
grievances.
 BILL OF RIGHTS
The First Amendment was a response to the concerns expressed
by many Anti-Federalists, who were skeptical of the proposed
Constitution and feared that it did not adequately safeguard
individual freedoms. In order to gain support for the
Constitution, Federalists, led by Madison, agreed to include a Bill
of Rights as a series of amendments to the Constitution.

Madison, drawing inspiration from various sources such as the

Virginia Declaration of Rights and English common law traditions,
crafted the language of the First Amendment. The amendment
was debated and revised by both the House of Representatives
and the Senate before being sent to the states for ratification.
On December 15, 1791, the First Amendment and the other nine
amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights were ratified by
three-fourths of the states, thus becoming an integral part of the
Constitution.
 BILL OF RIGHTS

The introduction of the First Amendment was crucial in ensuring

the protection of individual liberties and establishing the
principle of limited government. It has since played a vital role in
shaping American society, guaranteeing the freedom of
expression and the right to dissent, and serving as a cornerstone
of democratic governance in the United States.

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are referred to as the

Bill of Rights. They contain many of the most fundamental rights
enjoyed by the American people.
 I Amendment

Congress shall make no law

respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof, or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the
press, or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.
 I Amendment
The First Amendment states that
Congress has no authority to make
any law “respecting an establishment
of religion or pro- hibiting the free
exercise of religion.” It further states
that Congress can do nothing to
restrict freedom of speech or freedom
of press, or the right of the people to
peaceably assemble and to peti- tion
the government.
 What was
happening
in America
in 1775-
1783?
The Political Context

The historical context that led to the creation of the First Amendment can be traced
back to the American Revolutionary Period and the drafting of the United States
Constitution.
During the American Revolution (1775-1783), the thirteen American colonies sought
independence from British rule. The colonists' grievances included restrictions on
their individual freedoms, such as limitations on free speech and freedom of the
press, as well as religious persecution. These experiences shaped their desire for a
government that protected individual liberties.
After achieving independence, the newly formed United States faced the challenge
of establishing a stable and effective system of government. The Articles of
Confederation, the initial governing document, proved inadequate in addressing the
needs of the nation. This led to a convention in Philadelphia in 1787, known as the
Constitutional Convention, where delegates gathered to draft a new constitution.
During the debates over the Constitution, some delegates expressed concerns that
the proposed document did not include explicit protections for individual rights.
These individuals, known as Anti-Federalists, feared that the new federal
government might become too powerful and infringe upon the rights of citizens.
To address these concerns and garner support for the Constitution, James Madison,
a Federalist and one of the principal architects of the document proposed a series of
amendments known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights aimed to safeguard
fundamental liberties and limit the powers of the federal government.
The Political Context

The First Amendment, in particular, emerged as a

response to the historical context of religious
persecution experienced by many early colonists. They
sought to ensure that the government could not
establish an official religion or infringe upon
individuals' freedom to practice their own faith.
 
The historical context surrounding the creation of the
First Amendment, therefore, includes the desire to
protect individual freedoms, rooted in the experiences
of the American Revolution, concerns over potential
government overreach, and the need to address
religious and other forms of persecution.
Religion
 Free
Speech
Free Press
 Free
assembly
Free petition