Why was the Bill of Rights added to the U.S. Constitution?

Following the Constitutional Convention of 1787, each state had to ratify the Constitution in order for it to go into effect. U.S. Constitution

Federalists supported the Constitution’s ratification and published The Federalist Papers to gain support for it. Alexander Hamilton John Jay The Federalist Papers

Anti-Federalists objected to the Constitution’s ratification because governing power was concentrated in the national government. Samuel Adams Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson

They feared this would lead to individual liberties being abused by the national government.

As a result, the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments) was added to the Constitution to protect individual liberties. James Madison; Bill of Rights author

1st Amendment: Guarantees freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press; the right to assemble peacefully; and the right to address the government.

2nd Amendment: Protects the right to possess firearms.

4th Amendment: Protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment: Guarantees that no one may be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

6th Amendment: Guarantees the right to a (fair, public) trial by jury in criminal cases.

Guantanamo Bay detention camp 8th Amendment: Prohibits excessive bail, fines, and punishments. Waterboarding Guantanamo Bay detention camp

By 1790, the Constitution was ratified by all 13 states of the U.S.