THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT
At America's beginning, citizens wanted their natural freedoms. Without an amendment to protect these freedoms, people of different religions could be persecuted, the government could create a national religion, protesters could be forced to be quiet, and citizens couldn't petition the government. When the Constitution was finished, it didn't contain all of the freedoms that the citizens wanted. The freedoms were considered unnecessary. However, after much argument, the Bill of Rights was adopted. This contained ten amendments stating all of the freedoms that the citizens were guaranteed. The Bill of Rights contained the First Amendment, which included the freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press, and petition. The Bill of Rights went into effect on December 15, 1791.