The Bill of Rights
Why was the Bill of Rights added to
the U.S. Constitution?
• In several states, ratification (approval) for the Constitution
was only obtained when Federalist supporters promised to
add a Bill of Rights to guarantee individual rights.
• Anti-Federalists like Patrick Henry and George Mason
attacked the Constitution for failing to include a Bill of
Rights.
George Mason
Patrick Henry
First 10 Amendments = Bill of Rights
• The First 10 Amendments to
the U.S. Constitution are
known as the Bill of Rights.
• James Madison wrote the Bill
of Rights.
• The Bill of Rights, protect
U.S. citizens' individual
liberties.
The Bill of Rights
• As soon as the first Congress assembled in 1789, it began
deciding which rights to include in the Bill of Rights.
• A list of ten rights were written and were sent to Congress
and the states for approval.
– 1st: Congress approved the amendments
– Next: 2/3rds of the states approved the amendments by
1791.
• Bill of Rights went into effect in 1791.
First Amendment (RAPPS)
• Freedom of Religion
– Guarantees individuals the right to freely engage in any religious
practices that do not directly harm other individuals.
• Government cannot establish a religion of the U.S.
– Who pays for public schools?
– Should public schools have prayers, which belong to a particular church
or religious group?
– U.S. Supreme Court has ruled: No.
There can be no religious activities,
such as prayers, in public schools
during school hours.
Religion
First Amendment
(RAPPS)
Freedom of Assembly
• Congress cannot deny individuals the right to “peacefully
assemble.”
• This means that people have the right to gather peacefully
with others without fear that the government will use force
against them.
First Amendment (RAPPS)
Freedom of Press
• This permits people to express themselves through
publication.
• Freedom of the press allows newspapers, radio, and
television to write or announce what they want without fear
of punishment.
• Journalists may have to
disclose his or her
sources.
• The press does not have
the right to publish
deliberate lies in order to
harm a person.
First Amendment (RAPPS)
Freedom of Petition
• Individuals have the rights to write to government
representatives of officials, seeking a change in law.
• This right is based on the belief that citizens have a right to
complain to their representatives about things they do not like
and would like to see changed.
• Citizens gather people’s
signatures on petitions.
• These petitions are then
sent to government
officials.
First Amendment (RAPPS)
Freedom of Speech
• Similar to the freedom of press
• Freedom to say or write almost anything in public.
• Americans cannot be put in jail for criticizing the government or for
expressing individual beliefs.
• In some circumstances, our speech
can be limited.
• The Supreme Court has ruled that
gov’t can limit free speech, if a “clear
and present danger” is created by
that speech.
• Free speech cannot violate other
laws – such as deliberately spreading
harmful lies, or copying someone
else’s words without permission.
1st Amendment
Religion
Assembly
Press
Petition
Speech
Fold a sheet of
paper to get 6
boxes.
Bill
of
Rights
R
A
P
S
1st Amendment
Freedoms/ Rights
P
Bill
of
Rights
R
A
1. List the freedom
2. Give an example
3. Draw a picture
with color
1st Amendment
Freedoms/ Rights
P
P
S