Final answer:
The First Amendment ensures four fundamental freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to assemble, all pivotal to a democracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four basic rights or freedoms included in the First Amendment are freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to assemble. Specifically, the Amendment prohibits Congress from making laws that would establish an official religion or infringe upon the free exercise of religion. It also forbids laws that would abridge the freedom of speech or of the press, and protects the right of the people to peaceably assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Furthermore, it is vital to understand how these freedoms serve the foundation of a democratic society, allowing for an open exchange of ideas, essential for any representative government.
In contrast, other amendments address different rights. For example, the Second Amendment deals with the right to bear arms, while rights concerning trials and arrests are covered in subsequent amendments like the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments. Altogether, the initial amendments comprising the Bill of Rights provide a structure that secures the liberties necessary for the functioning of the United States as a free society.