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What was the major argument of those who opposed ratification of the United States Constitution?

(1) The states should not be forced to pay taxes to the federal government.
(2) The new constitution did not adequately protect individual liberties against abuse by the federal government.
(3) The judicial branch was granted more power than the legislative and executive branches.
(4) The federal government did not have enough power to defend the nation against foreign enemies.

User Nuss
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Final answer:

The primary concern of the Anti-Federalists was that the United States Constitution did not provide adequate protection for individual liberties without a Bill of Rights, leading to fears of an overly powerful federal government. The correct answer is option 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

The major argument of those who opposed ratification of the United States Constitution was that the new constitution did not adequately protect individual liberties against abuse by the federal government. The opponents, known as Anti-Federalists, feared that a strong central government without a Bill of Rights would endanger the rights and freedoms of individuals. Prominent figures like Patrick Henry and George Mason were worried about the potential for the federal government to exert excessive power over the states and the absence of explicit protections for civil liberties.

To address these concerns and secure ratification from large states like Virginia and New York, Federalists promised to add a Bill of Rights after the Constitution was ratified. Eventually, the addition of the first ten amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, alleviated some of these fears and helped to finalize the ratification process.

User Camh
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