Question

What was one of the main reasons the Bill of Rights was added to the U.S. Constitution?

1) To protect individual rights and liberties
2) To establish a system of checks and balances
3) To outline the powers of the federal government
4) To ensure equal representation for all states

Answer 1

The Bill of Rights was added to the U.S. Constitution primarily to protect individual rights and liberties, reassuring both Federalists and Anti-Federalists and helping to secure the Constitution's ratification.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main reason the Bill of Rights was added to the U.S. Constitution was to protect individual rights and liberties. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were created to resolve conflicts between Federalists, who favored a strong central government, and Anti-Federalists, who advocated for the protection of individual freedoms from governmental powe. The addition of the Bill of Rights helped to secure the ratification of the Constitution by ensuring that certain fundamental rights—such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to a fair trial—were explicitly protected against infringement by the federal government. Over time, these protections have been extended to include actions by state governments, significantly shaping American law and society.