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Bill of Rights

Featured Document: Senate Revisions to House-passed Amendments to the Constitution (draft of Bill of Rights), September 9, 1789

On June 8, 1789, Representative James Madison of Virginia introduced to the First Federal Congress a series of proposed amendments to the newly ratified U.S. Constitution. Madison's original proposal had the amendments interwoven into the text of the Constitution. That summer the House of Representatives debated the issue, and on August 24 the House passed seventeen amendments to be added to the end of the Constitution. The Senate then took up the matter—they altered and consolidated the House amendments into twelve. This document reflects the Senate's changes to the House-passed articles of amendments. Twelve articles of amendment were then sent to the states—three through twelve were ratified and became the Bill of Rights in 1791.

Senate Revisions to House-passed Amendments to the Constitution (draft of Bill of Rights), September 9, 1789, page 1

RG 46, Records of the U.S. Senate

Senate Revisions to House-passed Amendments to the Constitution (draft of Bill of Rights), September 9, 1789, page 2

RG 46, Records of the U.S. Senate

Senate Revisions to House-passed Amendments to the Constitution (draft of Bill of Rights), September 9, 1789, page 3

RG 46, Records of the U.S. Senate

To learn more about the First Congress and the creation of the Bill of Rights visit the First Federal Congress Project.


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