On This Day: The Ratification of The Bill of Rights

On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified by Virginia, allowing the passage of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Virginia was the tenth of fourteen states to ratify the Bill of Rights giving it the necessary two-thirds majority to become law. While twelve amendments were originally proposed by Congress in September of 1789, only ten were ratified. These ten amendments were intended to protect the basic rights of U.S. citizens and guaranteed freedom of speech, press, and assembly, the right to bear arms, and the delegation of rights not granted to the federal government be reserved for the states among other rights.

Bill of Rights

Christine Blackerby from the National Archives "Amending America" exhibit discusses the ratification of the Bill of Rights.