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

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are commonly referred to as the Bill of Rights. This term is used to signify the amendments that were specifically designed to protect the individual liberties and rights of citizens against potential government overreach. The Bill of Rights was introduced to address the concerns of Anti-Federalists who feared that the new constitution provided too much power to the federal government at the expense of individual freedoms.

The Bill of Rights includes essential protections, such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, thereby establishing a foundational framework for civil liberties in the United States. This historical context reinforces the importance of the Bill of Rights in American law and governance, illustrating why it holds a unique place in the Constitution.

In contrast, the other terms listed do not accurately reflect the specific identity or purpose of these amendments. For instance, "Constitutional Rights" and "Foundational Amendments" do not specifically refer to these initial ten amendments, while "Civil Liberties Addendum" is not a recognized term within constitutional law.