United States Bill of Rights

The United States Bill of Rights are the first 10 basic laws of the United States. The creation of U.S. Bill of Rights was most influenced by James Madison's Federalist Paper No. 10. In the his work, Madison argued that a pure democracy leaves majority faction in a position to abuse the minority classes. As a consequence, the founding fathers decided to adopt the Bill of Rights as the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Originally, the Bill of Rights was designed to protect basic freedoms for white, property owning, male citizens, but today these protections are extended to all members of the nation without exception.


United States Constitution Bill of Rights Paraphrased
1st Amendment - protects the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the freedom to assembly.

2nd Amendment - protects the right to bear arms.

3rd Amendment - protects against the forced quartering (housing) of soldiers.

4th Amendment - protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment - protects legal liberties such as the right to a grand jury, the right to due process, the right to avoid self-incrimination, and the right to avoid double jeopardy.

6th Amendment - protects the right to a fair and speedy trial, protects the right to face accuser, protects the right to retain an attorney.  

7th Amendment - protects the right to trial by jury.

8th Amendment - protects against cruel and unusual punishment.

9th Amendment - protects against using unwritten   rights as an avenue to abuse citizens.

10th Amendment - states rights; rights that are not outlined in the Constitution are given to the states and people.