FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2025-209

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (December 15, 2025) – Today’s edition of Fun with Maps takes a behind the scenes look at enacting our original Bill of Rights.

Bill of Rights

Some argued that the US Constitution had certain deficiencies and wanted to change it accordingly, back in the late 1700s.

Chief among these folks was Representative James Madison, who later became the fourth US President.  Interestingly, he is viewed by some today as the Father of the Constitution.

The Anti-Federalists, who wanted less power by the Federal Government and more power by the States and the People, pointed to some of these omissions and the like, starting the whole debate.

The usual political tug of war ensued, including how to deal with the deficiencies – as a rewrite of the Constitution or as Amendments. At the end the Bill of Rights was enacted on December 15, 1791.   It contained the original 10 Amendments.   Now there are 27 Amendments in total.

We present a map of Kentucky here as this was the first admitted state, by six months, after the Bill of Rights was enacted.  The map is by Tanner from 1839.  

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.