November 20, 1789: New Jersey becomes first state to ratify Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights refers to the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The Bill of Rights protects individu­als' rights from the powers of the national government. These basic rights are freedom of speech, assembly, religion, and the press; protection against self-incrimination in a legal proceeding, unreasonable search and seizure, and cruel and unusual punishment; and the right to a speedy and fair trial. Congress proposed the ten amendments in September, 1789. New Jersey was the first state to ratify them. It was not until two-thirds of the states had done so (in 1791) that the amendments officially became part of the Constitution.