What does the Bill of Rights protect?

The Bill of Rights is a crucial part of the United States Constitution, consisting of the first ten amendments, which explicitly outlines the fundamental rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to all individuals. These amendments were added to the Constitution to ensure that the government would not infringe upon these essential liberties, providing protections for things such as freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and the right to petition, as well as rights related to legal proceedings and privacy.

The significance of the Bill of Rights lies in its role as a safeguard for individual liberties against governmental overreach, ensuring that citizens can engage in fundamental activities without fear of retaliation or suppression. This focus on personal freedoms establishes a framework of rights that every American is entitled to, making it paramount that the Bill of Rights is understood as a protector of basic human rights within the United States.