Historian Joseph Ellis has said that the Declaration of Independence contains the thirty-five “most potent and consequential words in American history.” True enough. Thomas Jefferson’s self-evident truths – that all men are created equal and that they are right to expect an unfettered pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness – are aspirational if not timeless. But those words were just a preamble to a list of complains. The Declaration gave us the why, and the US Constitution, the how America would govern itself.

But something was missing. In its original form, the US Constitution didn’t enumerate a Bill of Rights – a literal list of what those inalienable rights would include. That Bill of Rights, our first ten amendments, is to this day – with all due respect, Mr. Ellis – arguably our most important document. It’s what we fought for and still fight over: speech, religion, guns, due process, fair trials, protection from cruel and unusual punishment…

And so now, on the eve of America’s 250th birthday, WGN Radio presents The Ten (American) Commandments. With historian Clay Jenkinson, John Williams looks at the Bill of Rights. In a ten-part series, they discuss the strengths, weaknesses and challenges presented by this 235 year-old document.

Part 1 drops Monday, June 1, 2026.