Skip to main content

Why wasn’t the Bill of Rights originally in the US Constitution? - James Coll

922,147 Views

30,397 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

When you think of the US Constitution, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Free speech? The right to bear arms? These passages are cited so often that it's hard to imagine the document without them. But the list of freedoms known as the Bill of Rights was not in the original text and wasn't added for three years. Why not? James Coll goes back to the origins of the Constitution to find out.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator James Coll
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Animator Chet Knebel
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

More from Government: Declassified