What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution collectively known as?

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. Introduced by James Madison in 1789 and ratified in 1791, the Bill of Rights was created to ensure the protection of individual liberties and to address the concerns of Anti-Federalists who feared that the new Constitution granted too much power to the federal government at the expense of personal freedoms. These amendments guarantee fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, and the right to a fair trial, among others. The naming of these amendments as the Bill of Rights emphasizes their role as a foundational declaration of the rights and freedoms that protect citizens from government overreach, making them a crucial component of the American democratic framework.