In this episode, Mary Sarah Bilder, Founders Professor at Boston College Law School, explores the history of rights and liberties in America and the origins of the Bill of Rights. She traces how ideas about rights developed before, during, and after the American Revolution, shaped debates over the Constitution, and ultimately led to the adoption of the first 10 amendments. She also explores how those amendments came to be known collectively as the Bill of Rights and gained the significance they have today. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates.
Follow We the People, Live at the National Constitution Center, and Civic Parenting on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
This episode was produced and mixed by Bill Pollock. With production support from Charles Sahm and Jonathan Tavernas. Research was provided by Anna Salvatore and Tristan Worsham.
Participants
Mary Sarah Bilder is the Founders Professor of Law at Boston College Law School. Her recent scholarship focuses on the early history of the Constitution. She has published numerous law review articles, and her scholarship has been quoted by the Supreme Court. She is the author of three books: Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention, which was awarded the 2016 Bancroft Prize in American History and Diplomacy; The Transatlantic Constitution: Colonial Legal Culture and the Empire; and Female Genius: Eliza Harriot and George Washington at the Dawn of the Constitution. She is currently working on a constitutional biography of Catharine Macaulay.
Julie Silverbrook is chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, where she leads the strategy, development, and delivery of the Center’s content, public programs, and educational initiatives, advancing its mission of nonpartisan constitutional education and civil dialogue. She oversees the creation of public-facing constitutional content and works to ensure the Center’s programs, scholarly engagement, and educational resources operate as a coordinated national strategy serving students, educators, families, and lifelong learners across the country.
Additional Resources
- “The Blessings of Liberty and Bills of Rights,” by Mary Sarah Bilder for the National Constitution Center
- Bill of Rights Resources, National Constitution Center
- The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals, (2026)
Stay Connected and Learn More
- Stay connected with We the People—follow, rate, and review the show wherever you listen.
- Questions or comments? Email [email protected].
- Follow @ConstitutionCtr on social media and sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate.
- Support our important work by making a donation today.
