Bill of Rights
Inspired by Thomas Jefferson and drafted by James Madison, New Jersey was the first state to sign and ratify the Bill of rights.
Started and held in the city of New York on 4/4/1789, the Articles of Confederation included thirteen articles and a conclusion, as they were signed by 48 people from thirteen different states. The first ten amendments to the United States constitution were the main legacy of the Anti-Federalist argument.
James Madison
As a federalist, Madison was Virginia's representative to the Constitutional Convention. In the Virginia Plan, he proposed establishing a three-part central government with executive, legislative, and judicial branches. During the convention proceedings, Madison made a significant contribution to the ratification of the Constitution by writing the Federalist Papers, which helped to form the U.S. Constitution and earned him the title "Father of the Constitution."
Prior to drafting the Bill of Rights, considering his dedication to individual freedoms, James Madison rejected having the inclusion of a bill of rights as a precondition for ratification of the Constitution, arguing that it was needless and perhaps dangerous. Anti-Federalists also feared that without a bill of rights, the Constitution would fail to preserve the rights of the people or the states, allowing the federal government to become too dominant.
But Madison changed his mind, as he intended to appease the anti-Federalists' opposition to the new government by introducing a Bill of Rights in the First Congress.
In the Bill of Rights, New Jersey approved eleven of the twelve draft articles, which were proposed by Congress and ratified by several state legislatures.
It ensured that all Americans' civil rights were protected, as well as individual liberty.
It protected the freedoms of assembly, speech, religion, and the press.
It guaranteed a speedy trial by an impartial jury, protected the rights to bear arms, and banned arbitrary searches.
It secured a well-regulated militia to safeguard the states.
The powers that were not delegated to the United States by the constitution are reserved to the States respectively or the people.
One option on how the United States would be ruled was the New Jersey Plan. Instead of the number of seats being determined by population, the Bill sets for each state to have one vote in Congress, but it was rejected as it was unfair to the large states.
