Which document established the fundamental rights of American citizens?

The Constitution is the document that established the fundamental rights of American citizens, particularly through the Bill of Rights, which is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments specifically outline essential liberties and protections, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to due process. The Constitution serves as the foundation of the United States government and enshrines the rights of individuals within the framework of the law, ensuring these rights are protected against infringement by the government.

Other documents, while historically significant, do not directly establish the fundamental rights of American citizens in the same way. The Articles of Confederation, for example, primarily laid out the framework for the government's operation and did not include specific rights for citizens. The Federalist Papers were a series of essays arguing for the ratification of the Constitution, but they are not a governing document themselves. The Magna Carta, an English charter from 1215, influenced American legal thought and the development of constitutional law but is not a U.S. document and does not outline the rights specifically for American citizens in the context of the United States Constitution.