Final answer:
Populous states like Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia ratified the Constitution by narrow margins due to their concerns about losing power and providing tax money. They were eventually convinced to ratify the Constitution through factors like the promise of a bill of rights and the influence of prominent leaders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The populous states like Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia ratified the Constitution by such narrow margins because they had significant power to lose. These states did not believe that they needed the federal government to defend them, and they disliked the prospect of having to provide tax money to support the new government. However, they were eventually persuaded to ratify the Constitution due to various factors such as the promise of a bill of rights and the influence of prominent leaders like James Madison and George Washington.