Mary Sarah Bilder on the Origins of the Bill of Rights

In this episode, Mary Sarah Bilder, Founders Professor at Boston College Law School, explores the history of rights and liberties in America and the origins of the Bill of Rights. She traces how ideas about rights developed before, during, and after the American Revolution, shaped debates over the Constitution, and ultimately led to the adoption of the first 10 amendments. She also explores how those amendments came to be known collectively as the Bill of Rights and gained the significance they have today. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

Resources 

“The Blessings of Liberty and Bills of Rights,” by Mary Sarah Bilder for the National Constitution Center 

Bill of Rights Resources, National Constitution Center 

The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals, (2026) 

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