First amendment website for kids

Fact about amendments to the constitution - Image of Bills of Right

The Constitution lays out the organization of our government with three governmental branches. The Constitution doesn’t say much about the rights of the people, though. This concerned the Founding Fathers. In 1789, James Madison offered several amendments to the Constitution which protected individual liberty. Congress approved the additions, which became the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights guarantees important freedoms that we often take for granted. Fun Facts

Vocabulary

  1. Guarantee: a formal promise or pledge
  2. Persecute: to harm, harass, torment, or mistreat someone, usually because of their race or religious beliefs.

Questions and Answers

Question: Are the freedoms promised in the Bill of Rights ever threatened?

Answer: Yes, frequently. In 1797, for example, the U.S. was involved in a short-lived conflict with France. The Federalists created the Alien and Sedition Acts, which said that people who were believed dangerous could be deported or punished. The Sedition Act made it a crime to say anything bad about the government. This is one of the reasons it’s important to pay attention to lawmakers and vote carefully.

Learn More

Visit Scholastic for more information about the Bill of Rights.