United States Bill of Rights Timeline of Events

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United States Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These limitations serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property. They guarantee a number of personal freedoms, limit the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and reserve some powers to the states and the public...

Timeline of Events

1789

6.8.1789

James Madison introduces twelve proposed amendments to the United States Constitution in the House of Representatives; by 1791, ten of them are ratified by the state legislatures and become the Bill of Rights; another is eventually ratified in 1992 to become the 27th Amendment.

9.25.1789

The U.S. Congress passes twelve amendments to the United States Constitution: the Congressional Apportionment Amendment (which was never ratified), the Congressional Compensation Amendment, and the ten that are known as the Bill of Rights.

10.2.1789

George Washington sends the proposed Constitutional amendments (The United States Bill of Rights) to the States for ratification.

11.20.1789

New Jersey becomes the first U.S. state to ratify the Bill of Rights.

1791

12.15.1791

The United States Bill of Rights becomes law when ratified by the Virginia General Assembly.