March 4th to September 25th, 1789 : The U.S. House of Representatives compiles a list of possible Constitutional Amendments, some of which will ultimately become the Bill of Rights. The House proposes seventeen out of the many which are offered; the Senate reduces this list to twelve. During this process Senator Tristram Dalton of Massachusetts proposes an Amendment seeking to prohibit, and provide a penalty for, any American accepting a “title of nobility” (RG 46 Records of the U.S. Senate). Although it isn’t passed, this is the first time a “titles of nobility” amendment is proposed.