The debate over ratifying the Constitution, and why a Bill of Rights was added

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Two sides in their own words

   Box Federalists: line 1 and line 2: James Madison, Federalist No. 51. Box Anti-Federalists: line 3: Letters from the Federal Farmer, Letter I (1787). Line 1 (Madison, The Federalist No. 51 (1788); as printed in 1852, p. 239): "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition." Line 2 (Madison, The Federalist No. 51 (1788); as printed in 1852, p. 239): "If men were angels, no government would be necessary… you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself." Line 3 (Letters from the Federal Farmer, Letter I (1787); as printed in 1888, p. 282): "The plan of government now proposed is evidently calculated totally to change, in time, our condition as a people. Instead of being thirteen republics, under a federal head, it is clearly designed to make us one consolidated government." Below the diagram: the Federal Farmer was a pen name; the writer did not sign his own name.

2. 1.

   What does line 1 say must counteract ambition, Tala asks?

   • Ambition
   • The king
   • Kindness
   • Money
3. 2.

   By line 2, what would be true if men were angels, Zee asks?

   • Stronger government would be needed
   • States would vanish
   • No government would be needed
   • Kings alone would rule
4. 3.

   In line 3, what does the Federal Farmer say the plan would make us, Ari asks?

   • Thirteen separate kingdoms
   • A colony of Britain again
   • A league of friendship
   • One consolidated government
5. 4.

   What does line 2 say government must do besides control the governed, Bo asks?

   • Control the king
   • Control itself
   • Control the states alone
   • Control the army alone
6. 5.

   In plain words, what does the Federal Farmer fear in line 3, Jun asks?

   • Too few states
   • States growing too strong for the nation
   • States swallowed into one government
   • A war with Britain
7. 6.

   Who wrote lines 1 and 2, Kira asks?

   • James Madison
   • John Adams
   • George Washington
   • The Federal Farmer
8. 7.

   Why is the Federal Farmer's real name not on line 3, Luz asks?

   • It was a pen name
   • It was a law
   • Madison wrote it
   • He was a real farmer named Federal
9. 8.

   Which side wrote line 3, Milo asks?

   • Congress
   • The British
   • The Anti-Federalists
   • The Federalists
10. 9.

    How would Noah state the Federalist view fairly?

    • States should stay fully separate nations
    • Government should do nothing
    • The king should return
    • A checked, stronger government is needed
11. 10.

    How would Pia state the Anti-Federalist view fairly?

    • The plan is too weak
    • There should be no Congress
    • The plan could swallow the states
    • The king was better