Who wrote the 1st amendment?

Asked by: Shawn Nitzsche  |  Last update: February 15, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (16 votes)

James Madison is credited with writing the First Amendment, as he drafted the initial language for the Bill of Rights in 1789, which Congress then debated and modified before its ratification in 1791, establishing protections for religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. While Madison was the primary author, the final wording was a product of congressional committee work, incorporating ideas from other Founders and state documents like the Virginia Declaration of Rights.

Who wrote the 1st and 2nd amendments?

James Madison wrote the amendments as a solution to limit government power and protect individual liberties through the Constitution. For example, the Founders saw the ability to speak and worship freely as a natural right protected by the First Amendment.

Who is responsible for the First Amendment?

Fundamental Freedoms

Drafted by James Madison and ratified in 1791, the Bill of Rights begins with the First Amendment.

Why did James Madison create the First Amendment?

Although there was disagreement about the necessity of including a Bill of Rights in the Constitution, Americans broadly supported protections for a free press, freedom of religion, etc. In 1789, James Madison proposed amending the U.S. Constitution to address these issues.

Who actually hand wrote the US Constitution?

Jacob Shallus or Shalus (1750–April 18, 1796) was an American calligrapher who was the engrosser or penman of the original copy of the United States Constitution.

The history of the First Amendment | Floyd Abrams | American Masters | PBS

17 related questions found

Did the Founding Fathers base the Constitution on the Bible?

The Founding Fathers didn't base the Constitution directly on the Bible but were significantly influenced by Christian principles and biblical concepts that shaped their understanding of morality, human nature (like sinfulness), and natural law, even while drawing more directly from English common law, Enlightenment thinkers, and historical republics. While the Constitution itself doesn't mention God or the Bible (except for dating), biblical ideas about justice, governance, and individual rights, filtered through Protestantism and Enlightenment thought, provided a moral and conceptual foundation, alongside secular sources. 

Is James Monroe a founding father?

James Monroe (/mənˈroʊ/ mən-ROH; April 28, 1758 – July 4, 1831) was an American Founding Father who served as the fifth president of the United States from 1817 to 1825.

Did James Madison believe in Jesus?

Sheldon, in an essay on Madison in an edited work titled “Religion and the American Presidency” (Columbia University Press, 2009), maintains that Madison's intellectual life and long public service to his nation were directed by his “firm Christian faith and principles.” These included belief in God's sovereignty, ...

What speech is not protected by the First Amendment?

Speech not protected by the First Amendment generally falls into categories like incitement to immediate violence, true threats, defamation (libel/slander), obscenity, child pornography, and speech integral to criminal conduct (like fraud), as well as "fighting words" that provoke immediate violence, though this category is narrowly applied. These exceptions allow government restriction because they don't contribute to the marketplace of ideas and often directly cause harm. 

What did Thomas Jefferson say about the First Amendment?

In terms of promoting the general welfare, the First Amendment bolsters what Thomas Jefferson described when he said, "An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."viii While the First Amendment does not guarantee a formal education, provisions for the free press allow dissemination of ...

Did the founding fathers make the First Amendment?

Freedom of conscience is an unalienable right

We know that Madison, the drafter of the First Amendment, shared Jefferson's views because he echoed them in his Memorial and Remonstrance in 1785, which persuaded the Virginia legislature to pass Jefferson's bill.

Did Thomas Jefferson have anything to do with the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights was proposed by the Congress that met in Federal Hall in New York City in 1789. Thomas Jefferson was the principal drafter of the Declaration and James Madison of the Bill of Rights; Madison, along with Gouverneur Morris and James Wilson, was also one of the principal architects of the Constitution.

Is James Madison a founding father?

James Madison, Founding Father, architect of the Constitution, and fourth President of the United States, was born on March 16, 1751 at his mother's home in Port Conway, Virginia, on the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg. His parents—Nelly Conway Madison and James Madison, Sr.

Did George Washington create the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights was initially written by James Madison, and was ratified on December 15, 1791. Washington writes a frank letter to Joseph Reed, his former secretary and a trusted confidant, responding to Reed's private criticisms.

Why did the founding fathers want free speech?

English common law understandings of press liberty, Madison argued, were inapplicable to a republic like the United States founded on the principle that “the people, not the government, possess the absolute sovereignty.” In order to hold public officers responsible in a republic, people must be able freely to discuss ...

Is the f word protected speech?

Yes, the "f-word" (profanity/obscenity) is generally protected speech under the First Amendment, as the Supreme Court has ruled that offensive or vulgar words alone aren't enough to restrict speech; however, it loses protection if it crosses into unprotected categories like "fighting words" (direct personal insults likely to provoke violence), true threats, or is part of obscenity, though courts have narrowed these exceptions significantly, as seen in the Brandi Levy case where school-related online swearing was protected. 

What speech does the constitution not protect?

The following speech may not be protected: Speech that is intended and likely to provoke imminent unlawful action (“incitement”). Statements where the speaker means to communicate a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals (“true threats”).

What are the two exceptions to freedom of speech?

Two major categories of speech not protected by freedom of speech are incitement to imminent lawless action (speech intended to cause immediate illegal acts) and true threats (serious expressions of intent to commit violence), with other key exceptions including defamation, obscenity, fraud, and child pornography. 

What is James Madison's most famous quote?

James Madison

  • “The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries.”
  • “The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”
  • “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”

Who was the most religious President of the United States?

WILLIAM MCKINLEY 1897-1901

One of the most devout presidents, McKinley found Methodism at a camp meeting revival when he was 10 years old. He became a member of the church six years later and remained steadfast in the Methodist Episcopal Church throughout his life.

What was James Monroe's cause of death?

James Monroe died from heart failure and tuberculosis (consumption) on July 4, 1831, in New York City. The infectious disease had tormented him for years, causing a persistent cough, and ultimately led to his death at age 73, making him the third U.S. President to pass away on Independence Day.
 

Who was the only president to serve 12 years?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, as well as the only one to have served more than two terms.

Why was James Monroe not friendly with George Washington?

James Monroe didn't exactly "hate" George Washington, but their relationship fractured due to deep political disagreements, primarily over foreign policy, culminating in Monroe's recall from France and his public criticism of Washington's Federalist administration, particularly the Jay Treaty, which Monroe saw as betraying the U.S. alliance with France. Monroe, a Democratic-Republican, favored France, while Washington's government sought neutrality and better ties with Britain, leading to a bitter rift never fully repaired, though Monroe later echoed Washington's non-entanglement stance.