What does the Bill of Rights primarily aim to protect?

The Bill of Rights primarily aims to protect individual freedoms by enumerating specific rights and liberties that are guaranteed to citizens. Ratified as the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution in 1791, these amendments address fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the press, as well as protections against unwarranted searches and seizures, and the right to a fair trial. The purpose of these protections is to ensure that individuals have certain inherent rights that cannot be infringed upon by the government, thereby limiting governmental power over personal liberties. This emphasis on individual freedoms reflects the framers' intent to safeguard personal liberty against potential government overreach, which was a significant concern following their experiences under British rule.