The Bill of Rights, the most celebrated part of the United States Constitution, almost seems like an afterthought. The Constitution, which spelled out the form of the national government and delineated the responsibilities of each branch, was ratified in 1788. Three years later Congress added 10 amendments (the Bill of Rights) that guaranteed individual liberties. This paper will summarize why those amendments were included, and analyze whether the Bill of Rights altered the Constitution or merely strengthened it.
The 1780s were a time of triumph and turmoil in America. The decisive American victory at Yorktown in 1781 guaranteed the nation's independence, confirmed two years later by a peace treaty with England that recognized the new nation. The fledgling nation's government, however, was in disarray. The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, created a weak national government because the states were unwilling to relinquish any power. As a result, the national government proved ineffectual, unable to deal with the nation's mounting debt and numerous interstate disputes.
Several issues revealed the impotence of the national government. First, the Congress had no independent method of raising revenue, relying entirely on inconsistent payments from the states. Yet the government had many obligations, not the least of which was the army's pay. As a result, Congress resorted to printing more money (which soon became worthless) and borrowing from abroad. Second, trade wars amongst the states threatened to wreck the nation's economy. Third, Congress had no power to force the states to adhere to the peace treaty, prompting England to retain control over certain areas of the American frontier in retaliation.
Several attempts at reform failed until May 1787, when the First Constitutional Convention was convened in Philadelphia. That convention opened with a modest goal of modifying the Articles of Confederation...