The “Bill of Rights” turned 200 this past week, but recent surveys show only a fraction of American youth know about the historic amendments. John Johnson, head of the University of Northern Iowa’s history department, says sometimes people cannot stomach the first amendment’s guarantee of freedom of speech.Johnson says the Bill of Rights were added to the Constitution as part of a deal to gain ratification of the document.Johnson says the Bill of Rights were based on ideas advanced by ancient philosophers as well as the construction of British government.Some of the basic rights spelled out in the “Bill of Rights” include freedom of religion and freedom of the press.
