What rights does the Bill of Rights primarily protect?

The Bill of Rights primarily protects individual liberties, which are the fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to each person. These rights include freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as rights to due process, bear arms, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, among others. The intention behind these amendments is to safeguard personal freedoms against potential government overreach, ensuring that individuals can exercise their rights without interference.

In the context of the other options, political rights typically refer to the rights associated with participation in the political process, such as the right to vote or run for office, which, while important, are not the central focus of the Bill of Rights. Financial rights would involve issues of economic freedom or property rights, which are not explicitly addressed in the Bill of Rights. Collective rights often pertain to group-related rights, such as those of communities or organizations, rather than the personal liberties emphasized in the Bill of Rights. Therefore, the focus on individual liberties distinctly defines the primary purpose of these foundational amendments.