The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is one of the most important documents of not only United States history, but also World History. These first ten amendments to the Constitution protect the rights of the people, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, and the right to a quick and fair trial for the accused. Over the past 200 years, this crucial document has been the inspiration for freedom-loving people around the world to try to change and improve their own governments. It was also the driving force behind the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a Bill of Rights for all of humankind, which was adopted by the United Nations in 1948.