Tag: American Revolution

Bill of Rights: Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, 1789 

Historical parchment displaying the preamble and initial articles of the Bill of Rights, dated in New York, March 1789.

The Bill of Rights, ratified on December 15, 1791, is a foundational document that outlines the primary rights and freedoms guaranteed to American citizens. These ten amendments were added to the Constitution to ensure the protection of individual liberties and place restrictions on governmental power. The Bill of Rights Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Adopted 1789. Ratified 1791.

Articles of Confederation, 1777

Close-up of the top section of the Articles of Confederation showing ornate handwriting with the words "To all to whom."

The Articles of Confederation, drafted in 1777 and ratified in 1781, served as the first constitution of the United States of America. Created during the tumultuous years of the American Revolution, this document established a confederation of sovereign states while granting limited powers to a central government. While instrumental in guiding the fledgling nation through