Was the United States Bill of Rights a part of the original U.S. Constitution?
Written in 1787, the Constitution was signed on September 17th. But it wasn’t until 1788 that it was ratified by the necessary nine states. Some of the original framers and many delegates in the state ratifying conventions were very troubled that the original Constitution lacked a description of individual rights. In 1791, Americans added a list of rights to the Constitution. The first ten amendments became known as The Bill of Rights. Articles Three through Twelve were ratified as additions to the Constitution on December 15, 1791, and became Amendments One through Ten of the Constitution.
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What are your thoughts on this subject?
25 Comments
Charly Gallagher
Gwen Gist Sarsfield, amendments were not part of the original constitution - hence, amendment. They were added to the Constitution later.
fishrmn
it might be understandable that people not from the United States could not get this correct but anyone that lived and went to school in the United States should know this the only reason you wouldn't know it is if you were sleeping in American history classes
littledick
Elsy O. Stromberg, Probably true, but perhaps not for those who are studying material such as this and/or in ESL classes. They often know more than native born Americans.
erik hughes
Mike Martin, amendment: "a minor change or addition designed to improve a text, piece of legislation, etc." They are NOT part of the "original" constitution, as they were ratified 3 YEARS AFTER (1791) the 'original' Constitution was (1788), so it's NOT an "opinion", it is a FACT.
erik hughes
Howard Groopman, amendment: "a minor CHANGE or ADDITION designed to improve a text, piece of legislation, etc."
erik hughes
Gwen Gist Sarsfield, amendments TO the Constitution. Amendment: "a minor CHANGE or ADDITION designed to improve a text, piece of legislation, etc."
pamela h
I guess the key word here is ORIGINAL.
mlphilpot
Very tricky wording...
Gold Toy Box
No mention of the Federalist Papers?
Elsy O. Stromberg
Gwen Gist Sarsfield, It's a part added later- that's why they're called amendments.
Elsy O. Stromberg
Martha Prefontaine, No it's not a matter of opinion- it's historical fact!
Elsy O. Stromberg
Dr. Bhoomz, I wouldn't expect non-Americans to know that unless they studied U.S. history.
Howard Groopman
The Bill of Rights = the first 10 amendments, so it could not have been part of the original.
Dr. Bhoomz
OMG...I thought everyone knew this. The Bill-Of-Rights was added later and ratified by the states a year after the constitution.
Marcella Kosse
Got it.
Richard D. Boyle
The original Constitution, with all its compromises, was hammered out in the Summer of 1787 and had to be ratified by the states. Some states were adamant that a Bill of Rights had to be added in order for them to vote in favor of ratification. This process took place in NYC in 1790-91 under the leadership of James Madison and enabled the Constitution to be ratified In 1791. The original Constitution written in Philadelphia in 1787 was not modified or rewritten...it was Amended and we know it as the first Ten Amendments or the Bill of Rights. This is all from memory but I believe it is essentially accurate. The answer to the quiz question is clearly NO...a rare but welcome result.