Bill of Rights
“The Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.” – Preamble to the Bill of Rights
(A full transcription of the Bill of Rights can be found on the National Archives website.)
One hundred and fifty years later, on November 27, 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a presidential proclamation designating December 15th as Bill of Rights Day. Seventy-five years later, this year marks the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Bill of Rights.
Roosevelt wrote: “It is fitting that the anniversary of its adoption should be remembered by the Nation which, for one hundred and fifty years, has enjoyed the immeasurable privileges which that charter guaranteed: the privileges of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the free right to petition the Government for redress of grievances.
It is especially fitting that this anniversary should be remembered and observed by those institutions of a democratic people which owe their very existence to the guarantees of the Bill of Rights: the free schools, the free churches, the labor unions, the religious and educational and civic organizations of all kinds which, without the guarantee of the Bill of Rights, could never have existed; which sicken and disappear whenever, in any country, these rights are curtailed or withdrawn.”
A discussion of the signing of the United States Constitution, as well as information about the storage and travels of the Constitution, can be found on the website for the National Archives.
- Did you know that the Constitution, unlike the Declaration of Independence, is in excellent physical condition?
- Did you know the Constitution was stored at Fort Knox during World War II?
- Did you know that the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are stored in helium-filled cases?