What was the significance of the Bill of Rights?

1 Answer
Dec 22, 2015

It provides many basic freedoms.

Explanation:

The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. It was ratified on December 15, 1791. It includes such rights as freedom of speech, press, and religion as well as prohibitions such as those against illegal search and seizure.

The Amendments:

  • The First Amendment: Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition

  • The Second Amendment: Right to bear arms

  • The Third Amendment: No quartering of soldiers

  • The Fourth Amendment: No unwarranted search or seizure

  • The Fifth Amendment: Right to a Grand Jury, no "double jeopardy" or testifying against themselves, right to Due Process, requires government compensation for goods taken for public use.

  • The Sixth Amendment: Right to speedy and public trial, right to an attorney, right to know your accusers and to find your own witnesses

  • The Seventh Amendment: Right to a jury in cases concerning more than $20

  • The Eighth Amendment: No excessive bail or punishment, no cruel or unusual punishment

  • The Ninth Amendment: Says that there are more rights than those listed here.

  • The Tenth Amendment: If the powers are not given to the national government or prohibited, they are in the states' power.

It could also be said that the Bill of Rights was important because it was a way of getting the Anti-Federalists to agree to the new Constitution. They were concerned that too much power would be taken away from the people and the state governments and would be given to the national government, so the Bill of Rights was added to appease them and get them to agree to pass the new Constitution.