What is the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights refers to the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments were ratified in 1791 and were created to guarantee essential rights and civil liberties for individuals. They include fundamental protections such as the freedom of speech, religion, and the press, as well as rights related to legal proceedings, including the right to due process and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The significance of the Bill of Rights lies in its role as a safeguard for individual liberties against potential government overreach. It was influenced by a strong desire among the states and the populace at the time to ensure specific protections were in place after the Constitution was ratified. Thus, identifying the Bill of Rights as these first ten amendments is critical in understanding the foundational principles of American democracy and individual rights.