Bill of Rights Ratified: December 15, 1791

Passed by Congress in September 1789, the Bill of Rights was officially ratified on December 15, 1791, when Virginia became the tenth state (out of fourteen) to approve ten of the twelve proposed amendments. These ten amendments to the Constitution protect individual liberties from the power of the federal government; guarantee freedom of speech, press, religion, petition, and assembly; and specify the rights of the accused in criminal and civil cases.

Explore some of the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s teaching resources for introducing the Bill of Rights in the classroom: 

• Grades 4-6
• Grades 7-9
• Grades 10-12