Final answer:
The adoption of the Bill of Rights in 1791 added specific protections for individual liberties to the U.S. Constitution, which originally lacked them. This was the result of a compromise between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. The Supreme Court later applied these rights to the states through selective incorporation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the adoption of the Bill of Rights which is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments were added shortly after the Constitution's ratification to appease the Anti-Federalists, who feared federal overreach and demanded protection for individual liberties.
Initially, the Constitution, drafted in 1787, did not outline any specific rights for individuals, as the focus was primarily on the structure and functionality of the new government, as well as preserving the union due to the pressing concerns of that era.
However, with the influence of James Madison, the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791 to ensure that certain fundamental rights and freedoms were explicitly protected, despite concerns by Federalists that listing specific rights might imply that unlisted rights were not protected. This is where the Ninth Amendment plays a crucial role by essentially declaring that other rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are still retained by the people.
Over time, the Supreme Court has engaged in the process of selective incorporation, applying the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states, thus ensuring that civil liberties are protected across the nation and not just by the federal government. This has led to ongoing interpretations and expansions of civil rights as society evolves.