Bill of Rights

Here is the document that made modern democracy possible. In 1791, ten amendments were added to the Constitution, forging a revolutionary bargain between citizen and state: certain liberties would be sacred, beyond the reach of government. Freedom of speech, of worship, of the press. The right to bear arms. Protection against unreasonable searches, quartering soldiers, cruel punishment. The right to a fair and speedy trial by one's peers. These 447 words have been interpreted, fought over, and reinterpreted for over two centuries. They are the foundation of American civic life, the clauses cited in every major debate about liberty and security. For anyone seeking to understand the roots of American constitutional democracy, this is where the story begins.