The changes to the U.S. Constitution have played a big role in shaping the rights of people living in America.

1. Bill of Rights (1791): The first ten changes to the Constitution focus on protecting personal freedoms. Some of these freedoms are:

   • The right to speak your mind (1st Amendment)
   • The right to own a gun (2nd Amendment)
   • Protection from being forced to testify against yourself (5th Amendment)

2. Civil War Amendments (1865-1870):

   • The 13th Amendment ended slavery.
   • The 14th Amendment gave citizenship to former slaves and promised equal protection under the law. This affected about 4 million people.
   • The 15th Amendment stopped discrimination when it came to voting based on race, which helped more African Americans register to vote.

3. Voting Rights Act (1965): This law made the 15th Amendment stronger. Because of this, more African Americans were able to vote. Between 1964 and 1972, Black voter registration in the South jumped from 29% to 70%.

4. Recent Amendments: The 26th Amendment (1971) changed the voting age to 18, allowing millions more people to vote.

These amendments show how the rights of American citizens have changed over time through new laws.