The Constitution of the United States came about because the previous constitution, Articles of Confederation, failed to satisfy everyone.  The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787 and lasted four months.

The Costitution begins with seven articles and follows with twenty-seven amendments, the last being added on 1992.  The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights:

Amendment I - Freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly.

Amendment II - The right to bear arms.

Amendment III - Prohibition against quartering of troops in private homes.

Amendment IV - Prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Amendment V - Rights guaranteed to the accused: requirement for grand jury indictment; protections against double jeopardy, self-incrimination; guarantee of due process.

Amendment VI - Right to a speedy and public trial before an impartial jury, to cross-examine witnesses, and to have counsel.

Amendment VII - Right to a trial by jury in civil suits.

Amendment VIII - Prohibition against excessive bail and fines, and against cruel and unusual punishment.

Amendment IX - Rights not listed in Constitution that are retained by the people.

Amendment X - The retaining by the states of those powers not denied to them by the Constitution or delegated to the national government.

The rest of the amendments have to do with such things as Judicial power (A. XI), voting procedures (A. XII), taxes (A. XVI), and the right of citizens to vote (A. XV, XIX, XXIV).