The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as what?

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. This is significant because the Bill of Rights was introduced to ensure the protection of individual liberties and rights against potential government overreach. These amendments were adopted in 1791 and include fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and rights concerning criminal prosecutions, among others. The intention behind the Bill of Rights was to provide a clear guideline of the rights that are protected and to limit the powers of the federal government in relation to individual freedoms, which has become a foundational element of American constitutional law and civil liberties.

In contrast, the other options represent different historical documents or concepts: The Declaration of Independence is a statement declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from British rule; The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution for the United States but were eventually deemed inadequate; and The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln that freed slaves in the Confederate states. Each of these documents has its own importance in U.S. history, but none are synonymous with the first ten amendments of the Constitution.