What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. This term refers specifically to the amendments that were added to ensure the protection of individual liberties and rights against potential government overreach. The Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, includes fundamental protections such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and the right to a fair trial, among others.

This crucial set of amendments was established to address concerns raised by Anti-Federalists during the ratification debate, as they feared that a strong national government could infringe upon the rights of citizens. The Bill of Rights serves as a cornerstone of American democratic principles, emphasizing the importance of personal freedoms and laying the groundwork for civil rights in the United States.

In contrast, other choices refer to different historical documents or concepts. The Articles of Confederation were the first governing document of the United States, which established a weak federal government. The Constitution Amendments is a more general term that could refer to any change made to the Constitution and does not specifically denote the first ten. The Declaration of Rights refers to various declarations in different contexts, including state laws, but it does not pertain specifically to the first ten amendments of the federal Constitution.