Saturday, February 19, 2005

The Bill of Rights (1781)

First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Transcript of The Bill of Rights at OurDocuments.gov. Transcript includes the original 12 Amendments submitted, the first two of which were not ratified.

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James Madison, Introducing the Bill of Rights

"[The] civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner or on any pretext infringed."

James Madison, introducing the Bill of Rights at the First Federal Congress, Congressional Register, June 8, 1789

Library of Congress Exhibition
The Bill of Rights at the National Archives

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