What is the name for the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution?

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments were ratified in 1791 and were designed to protect the individual liberties and rights of American citizens against potential governmental overreach. The Bill of Rights addresses essential freedoms such as the freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and the rights of individuals in legal proceedings, among others.

Understanding why this distinction is significant helps solidify the foundational principles of American democracy, highlighting the importance placed on individual rights at the very outset of the nation's constitutional framework. The other options refer to different historical documents or concepts, such as the Articles of Confederation, which was an earlier governing document, or the Federalist Papers, which were a series of essays written to advocate for the ratification of the Constitution. The Constitution's amendments is a broader term that could refer to all amendments, not just the specific first ten which are uniquely categorized as the Bill of Rights.