Which document contained the initial set of rights for Americans?

The Bill of Rights is the document that contains the initial set of rights specifically enumerated for Americans. Ratified in 1791, it consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution and guarantees fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as the rights to bear arms, a fair trial, and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

These amendments were added to address concerns about the potential for government overreach and to ensure that individual liberties were explicitly protected. The Bill of Rights serves not only as a foundational element of American law but also as a crucial part of the nation’s identity, reflecting the values of democracy and personal freedom that the founders sought to establish.

Other documents, while significant in American history, do not fulfill the same role. The Declaration of Independence primarily articulated the colonies' reasons for separation from British rule, the Articles of Confederation established the first governing framework of the United States but lacked strong protections for individual rights, and the Federalist Papers were essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution rather than a set of rights. Thus, the Bill of Rights stands as the cornerstone of American civil liberties and individual rights.