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The American colonies had accomplished an amazing success. Angry about their treatment by the British government, the colonists had protested and then revolted. After winning the Revolutionary War against England, they had formed a new country: the United States of America.
During the war, the Continental Congress had formed a government under the Articles of Confederation. This document served as the first constitution of the United States. Because of their experiences with the British government, the colonists had limited the power of the United States central government under the Articles. After the war, however, many people realized that the government had too little power. It could not collect taxes or regulate trade. There was no executive to enforce laws and no court system to make sure laws were fair. The country’s leaders realized the United States needed a new plan of government.
Respected people, or delegates, from all the colonies except for Rhode Island met in Philadelphia in 1787 to create a new constitution. For four months the delegates discussed problems and solutions—in secret so that no one would influence the decisions. Finally, in September 1787, they completed the writing of the United States Constitution. The next step was to get the document ratified, or approved, by nine of the thirteen states. That task was not easy.
When Americans learned the specifics of the Constitution, two groups formed. People who supported the strong government created by the Constitution were called Federalists. People who worried that the government would be too powerful were called Anti-Federalists. As the states prepared to ratify the Constitution, these two groups worked hard to get people to join their side. Leaders of the Federalists wrote a series of essays published throughout the country. They urged the states to ratify the Constitution without any amendments. Meanwhile, the Anti-Federalists wanted to make sure that people’s rights were protected against the government. It soon became clear that some states—especially big states such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia—were not ready to adopt the Constitution.
What were the rights that the Anti-Federalists wanted to protect? The list included the right to speak freely, to worship freely, to have fair searches, and to have a trial by jury. These were all rights that the British government had ignored before the Revolution. Federalists claimed that those rights were protected even though they were not specifically listed. After more than two years of discussions, James Madison proposed amendments, or additions, to the Constitution that would protect a citizen’s rights.
What were the rights that the Anti-Federalists wanted to protect? The list included the right to speak freely, to worship freely, to have fair searches, and to have a trial by jury. These were all rights that the British government had ignored before the Revolution. Federalists claimed that those rights were protected even though they were not specifically listed. After more than two years of discussions, James Madison proposed amendments, or additions, to the Constitution that would protect a citizen’s rights.
The House of Representatives passed seventeen amendments on August 24, and the Senate consolidated them into twelve amendments. The Senate passed them on September 9. In order for the amendments to become law, however, the states also had to approve them. Congress sent the amendments to the states on September 25. The states approved ten of the twelve amendments—known as the Bill of Rights—on December 15, 1791. The United States had a new government plan that allowed it to become not only the most powerful nation in the world but also the greatest protector of human rights.
Select two sentences which demonstrate that it was difficult to get states to ratify the Constitution.
Question 1 options:
"Because of their experiences with the British government, the colonists had limited the power of the United States central government under the Articles."
"After more than two years of discussions, James Madison proposed amendments, or additions, to the Constitution that would protect a citizen's rights."
"It soon became clear that some states—especially big states such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia—were not ready to adopt the Constitution."
"Respected people, or delegates, from all the colonies except for Rhode Island met in Philadelphia in 1787 to create a new constitution."
"The list included the right to speak freely, to worship freely, to have fair searches, and to have a trial by jury."