What is is the purpose of the first 10 amendments?

Answer 1

This first ten amendments were added to guarantee unalienable rights that the Constitution left out. The are identical to the Bill of Rights, because many states would not ratify the Constitution without the rights provided from the Bill. Therefore, the main purpose was simply to ratify the Constitution.

Answer 2

Their purpose is preserve our rights as people of the United States, and make it clear what our rights are as citizens.

The Bill of Rights (aka the 1st 10 amendments) was also used to get the Anti-Federalists to support the Constitution's ratification. They worried that without these guarantees, the federal government could restrict the freedoms sought and won by the colonies.

Answer 3

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the "Bill of Rights", but perhaps they should have been called the "Federal Never-Shall-You-Ever" list.

The Constitution of the United States gave the Federal government far more power than the old Articles of Confederation did, but many of the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention were afraid that it would give the government too MUCH power. The Federalists argued that the Constitution was inherently limiting, that only eighteen specific "Enumerated Powers" as listed in Article 1 Section 8 would have any effect. The Anti-Federalists argued that any government, no matter how justly intended, would invariably grow to exceed its stated limits.

Both sides compromised on a "Bill of Rights", absolute restrictions on the Federal government that would protect the citizens against the government. The Anti-Federalists insisted; the Federalists figured that it was no big deal, that a "bill of rights" was unneeded.

So the basic "purpose" of the Bill of Rights was to get the Constitution passed.

And we can see here in 2014 that the Anti-Federalists were absolutely correct and that the Federal government has grown unchecked far beyond its intended functions. ONLY the Bill of Rights - and only a couple of those - still serve to protect the citizen from his government.

Answer 4

Its called the Bill of Rights. It was demanded by many to be added to the Constitution to guarantee certain personal rights and freedoms.

Answer 5

It was to establish and limit government's abilities and duties to the people they serve.

Answer 6

To revise and change the U.S. Constitution for the better.

Answer 7

Protect the individual rights of a citizen

Answer 8

The first 10 amendments make changes to the Constitution in order to give U.S. citizens more rights.