The First Ten Amendments

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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In 1781, amid the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress quickly passed the Articles of Confederation.

The Articles of Confederation was the United States' first Constitution. It described what the government would look like and what it would be responsible for.

Unfortunately, the Articles of Confederation were riddled with problems. Some of those problems included the following.

The Continental Congress could not levy taxes or issue and collect taxes. The United States had a lot of debt at the end of the Revolutionary War, meaning they owed more money than they had. If Congress could not collect taxes, they could not pay off their debts.

There was no common currency between the states. Without a consistent form of money throughout the United States, buying, selling, and trading goods outside of the state where you lived was difficult.

Each state was given only one vote in Congress, regardless of population size. Larger states with larger populations, such as New York and Massachusetts, felt they should have greater representation than smaller states.

By 1787, it became clear the Articles of Confederation could not support a strong, lasting government.

In 1787, each state (except Georgia) sent representatives to a Constitutional Convention. The delegates, or representatives, drafted a new Constitution that created three branches of government with shared powers.

For the new Constitution to go into effect, at least nine states had to ratify (approve) it. That was easier said than done.

Many states refused to ratify or pass the Constitution because they felt it took too much power away from the states and individuals and gave it to the federal government. To get the states needed for ratification, it was agreed that amendments would be added to the Constitution, giving more power to states and individuals if the states ratified it.

On June 21, 1788, the Constitution was ratified by the ninth state, New Hampshire, and became the official Constitution of the United States.

After the Constitution was ratified and the first Congress met, efforts were made to begin creating amendments.

In 1789, nineteen amendments were proposed to Congress. Congress approved twelve of the amendments, and for over a year, Congress debated and refined them until they were ready to be ratified by the states.

The amendments would need approval by three-fourths of the states before they could be added to the Constitution. The states quickly ratified ten of the amendments.

The ten ratified amendments became the first ten amendments to the Constitution. The first ten amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, were added to the Constitution on December 10, 1791.

Take a closer look at the Bill of Rights. Click on each to read a summary of what it does.

Now that you have looked closely at the Bill of Rights, reflect on the following questions.

• Why is each amendment important?
• How does each of the amendments affect you and your family?
• Did the Continental Congress keep its promise to add additional amendments, giving power to the states and the people? If so, in what amendments do you see reference to this promise?

Move to the Got It? section to play a game that will help you review the first ten amendments.