James Madison

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. Many people consider them one of the primary strengths of the U.S. Constitution. But, originally, the Constitution had no such Bill of Rights. In fact, James Madison, a primary contributor to the U.S. Constitution, often expressed the belief that a Bill of Rights was not necessary in a government that is properly constructed. In this letter to Thomas Jefferson, written on October 17, 1788, after many states had ratified the Constitution only with the understanding that a Bill of Rights must be added to the document, Madison reluctantly accepts the idea that a Bill of Rights should be part of the U.S. Constitution. As he is expressing his support for a Bill of Rights, Madison...