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

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   The ratification debate (1787 to 1788)

   Box Federalists: supported the new Constitution; wrote the Federalist essays: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay; 85 essays, most by Hamilton. Box Anti-Federalists: opposed the Constitution as written; feared a central government too strong, and the loss of state power; attacked the lack of a bill of rights. Box The states: ratifying conventions in each state; nine states were needed to put the Constitution into effect. Arrows: from Federalists to The states: urged to ratify; from Anti-Federalists to The states: urged to reject or amend. Line 1 (Constitution (1787), Article VII; as printed in 1840, p. 14): "The ratification of the conventions of nine states shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying the same."

2. 1.

   Who supported the new Constitution, Milo asks?

   • The king of Britain
   • Rhode Island's voters
   • The Anti-Federalists
   • The Federalists
3. 2.

   What did the Anti-Federalists attack the Constitution for lacking, Noah asks?

   • A president
   • A Congress
   • A bill of rights
   • Three branches of power
4. 3.

   Who wrote the Federalist essays, Pia asks?

   • Franklin and George Washington
   • Jefferson and Adams
   • Mason, Henry and Lee
   • Hamilton, Madison and Jay
5. 4.

   In line 1, who ratifies: conventions or legislatures, Tala asks?

   • The conventions of the states
   • The Congress alone
   • The president
   • The state legislatures and governors
6. 5.

   How many Federalist essays were there, Zee asks?

   • 9
   • 85
   • 51
   • 13
7. 6.

   Bo reads the words bill of rights. What is a bill of rights?

   • A list of protected rights
   • A list of the states
   • A list of new laws to pass this year
   • A list of taxes owed
8. 7.

   Esme reads the word Anti-Federalist. What does the prefix anti- mean?

   • Before
   • Against
   • For
   • Under
9. 8.

   What did the Anti-Federalists fear, Jun asks?

   • Too few essays
   • Too strong a central government
   • Too many bills of rights
   • Too weak a central government, like the Articles
10. 9.

    Where did each side send its arguments, by the arrows, Kira asks?

    • To France
    • To each other, and no one else
    • To the king
    • To the states' conventions
11. 10.

    What did the Anti-Federalists urge the states to do, Luz asks?

    • To keep the British
    • To reject or amend it
    • To elect a king
    • To ratify it as written