What are the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution called?

Study for the FGCU Civic Literacy Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations, to prepare confidently. Get ready for your exam!

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as The Bill of Rights. This set of amendments was ratified in 1791 and serves to protect individual liberties and rights from government overreach. It includes essential protections such as the freedom of speech, right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and the right to a fair trial, among others.

The Bill of Rights was created in response to concerns from the Anti-Federalists, who feared that a strong central government would undermine the rights of the individual states and their citizens. By enshrining these rights in the Constitution, the founders intended to ensure that fundamental freedoms would be safeguarded.

In contrast, the Articles of Confederation were an earlier agreement among the thirteen original states that created a loose confederation before the Constitution was adopted, while the Federalist Papers were a series of essays advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. The Declaration of Rights, while it may sound similar, does not specifically refer to the first amendments of the Constitution and is not the recognized name for this specific collection of amendments.

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