What was a significant early document that incorporated Civil Liberties in the United States?

The U.S. Constitution is a significant early document that incorporated civil liberties in the United States primarily through its structure and the Bill of Rights. The Constitution outlines the framework for the government and establishes fundamental principles, including the protection of individual rights against government power.

The original text of the Constitution, ratified in 1788, laid the foundation for civil liberties, but it was the subsequent addition of the Bill of Rights in 1791 that explicitly enumerated specific rights and protections for individuals. These amendments guarantee freedoms such as speech, religion, assembly, and the right to due process, significantly shaping American civil liberties.

While the Declaration of Independence articulates the philosophical underpinnings of liberty and rights, it does not have the legal force to protect those liberties. The Federalist Papers provide insight and reasoning for the Constitution but are not a legal document themselves. The Emancipation Proclamation, although a landmark action in relation to civil rights, specifically addressed the issue of slavery rather than establishing a broad framework for civil liberties. Thus, the U.S. Constitution is the foundational document reflecting early commitments to civil liberties.