James Madison added the Bill of Rights during the First Congress in 1789. It was later ratified by the states, with Virginia becoming the 11th state to do so on December 15, 1791.
The Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, was added by James Madison during the First Congress in 1789.
Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution," played a pivotal role in drafting these amendments to address concerns raised by Anti-Federalists who sought to protect individual liberties from potential government overreach. Following Madison's proposal, the Bill of Rights was then ratified by the states.
The ratification process involved each state holding conventions to debate and approve the amendments. On December 15, 1791, Virginia became the 11th state to ratify, reaching the necessary three-fourths majority for adoption. The Bill of Rights, with its crucial protections of fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to a fair trial, has since become a cornerstone of American constitutional law, shaping the principles of individual liberty and government restraint.
Complete question below:
Who added the Bill of Rights, and which entity later ratified it?