The Bill of Rights

Without the Bill of Rights, the United States would have failed almost immediately. For hundreds of years, people came to America looking of freedom from the monarchies back in Europe. Thousands were simply tired of being taxed and controlled by what they viewed as unfair rulers. The difference between the kings and queens of old and the new United States, was the Bill of Rights.

In the early stages of the United States’ government, Federalists and anti-Federalists fought over numerous topics. Anti-Federalists were supporters of a weak central government while having strong state governments, while the Federalists essentially wanted the opposite. Theses two parties fought and helped mold the Constitution. However, the Constitution was on the brink of not being ratified. Anti-Federalists continued to argue that there needed to be more of a guarantee that individual’s rights were going to be protected. Here comes in the Bill of Rights. These ten amendments, initially twelve but only ten were ratified, guaranteed American’s freedom of speech and religion, among other important individual rights. The Bill of Rights is the most important constitutional legacy of the Anti-Federalists[1].

Governments in the late 1700’s were in turmoil to say the least. Revolutions, including the United States, were taking place in Europe. France’s century old monarchy was about to fall and there was general unrest with the low classes. The Bill of Rights helped ensure even the poor would be, at least in practice, treated fairly. This bought the country time to settle and focus on establishing itself as a nation.

A large base for the population of the early U.S. was Europeans looking for a place to live and practice any religion they chose. Dozens of different religions were embraced in the in the early states and the Constitution’s framers wanted to ensure none of these religions would have the opportunity to have power over any of the others. The Bill of Rights made it a priority to have a separation of church and state. This helped ensure that individuals’ freedom to practice a religion of their choosing would be safe.

The Bill of Rights highlighted the irony of slavery in the United States. Every right protected in the ten amendments didn’t necessarily “apply” if you weren’t white. Even though it took over half a century, eventually slavery was brought to an end in the U.S. and the country was able to try and move on. The end of slavery was crucial in the United States ability to advance as a society and as a country.

So, the Bill of Rights was one of the most important factors in the U.S. coming together as a nation. It ensured citizens rights and brought about the ratification of the Constitution. Without it, the United States would not be alive today.

---

[1] Zinn, Howard. APeople's History of the United States. New York: The New Press, 2003