June 8: On This Day in 1789 - U.S. Bill of Rights Proposed

James MadisonJune 8, 1789: The Bill of Rights, which led to the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, was first proposed by James Madison on this day.

At the Constitutional Convention, James Madison had not believed that a bill of rights was required for the new government. However, during the ratification process, several states had called for a bill of rights, and Madison felt it was his obligation to propose one. Madison also clearly felt a need to control the amendment process by taking leadership of the effort. He said:

"I should be unwilling to see a door opened for a re-consideration of the whole structure of the government, for a re-consideration of the principles and the substance of the powers given; because I doubt, if such a door was opened, if we should be very likely to stop at that point which would be safe to the government itself."

The series of articles came into effect on December 15, 1791, when they were ratified by three-fourths of the States. Thomas Jefferson was the main proponent of the Bill of Rights.