Approving the Constitution (10-1)
Name: ________________________________________________________ Class: __________
Although the delegates to the Constitutional Convention had written the Constitution of the
United States, it was not yet the law of the land. Nine out of the thirteen states had to ratify, or
agree to, the Constitution before it would become law.
1. What had to happen before the Constitution would become the law of the land?
Read “State Ratifying Conventions” on page 315 – 316
2. Why were many delegates not willing at first to agree to the new Constitution?
Directions: Read the following statements and decide if they are true or false. Re-write “false”
statements to make them true.
3. ________ The Constitution had to be ratified by all 13 states before it could become
law.
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4. ________ All states favored a stronger national government.
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5. ________ Most states agreed that the Constitution needed a bill of rights.
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Read “The Vote” on page 317 – 318.
6. Which state was the first to ratify the Constitution?
7. Federalists –
8. Why did the Federalists want?
9. Anti-Federalists –
10. What did the Anti-Federalists want?
Directions: Read the following statements and decide if they are true or false. Re-write “false”
statements to make them true.
11. ________ Anti-Federalists wanted a strong national government.
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12. ________ The large states were first to vote in favor of the Constitution.
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13. Why do you think winning ratification in large states such as New York and Virginia was
so important?
14. What effect did the promise of a bill of rights have on the debate over ratification?
Read “For or Against a Bill of Rights” on pages 320 – 321
1. What viewpoint about the Bill of Rights did Jefferson hold?
2. What viewpoint about the Bill of Rights did Madison hold at first?
3. How did Madison’s viewpoint change over time?