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Chapter 8 Section 3 Reading Guide Key ( 25 points)
Vocabulary (9 points)
Antifederalists - people who opposed ratification of the Constitution
federalism - system of government in which power is shared between the national (or
federal) government and the states
Federalists- people who supported ratification of the Constitution
The Federalist papers- ratification essays published in New York newspapers
Bill of Rights- first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution
majority rule- a system in which more than one half of a group holds the power to make
decisions binding the entire group
Amendment- addition to a document
Parliament- Britain’s chief lawmaking body
Enlightenment- 18th-century movement that emphasized the use of reason and the scientific method
to obtain knowledge
Reading Comprehension
1. What was a major concern for the Federalists? ( 1 points)
The framers suspected that people might be afraid the Constitution would take too much power
away from the states.
2. How did they attempt to address that concern? ( 1 point)
To address this fear, the framers explained that the Constitution was based on federalism. Federalism
is a system of government in which power is shared between the central (or federal) government and
the states.
3. What were the major concerns of the Antifederalists (at least 3 of them)? ( 3 points)
The Antifederalists thought the Constitution took too much power away from the states and did not
guarantee rights for the people. Some feared that a strong president might be declared king. Others
feared the Senate might become a powerful ruling class. In either case, they thought, the liberties
fiercely won during the Revolution might be lost.
4. What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers? ( 1 point)
They were written to convince citizens of New York to vote for ratification.
5 Who wrote the Federalist Papers? ( 1 point)
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay
6. Why did Anti-Federalists argue that a Bill of Rights was necessary? ( 1 point)
The proposed U.S. Constitution contained no guarantee that the government would protect the
rights of the people, or of the states. Antifederalists wanted written guarantees that the people
would have freedom of speech, of the press, and of religion. They demanded assurance of the right to
trial by jury and the right to bear arms.
7. Why did the Federalists argue that a Bill of Rights was NOT necessary? ( 1 point)
Federalists insisted that the Constitution granted only limited powers to the national government so
that it could not violate the rights of the states or of the people. They also pointed out that the
Constitution gave the people the power to protect their rights through the election of trustworthy
leaders
8. Why was it important for New York to ratify the Constitution? (1 point)
Without New York, the nation would be split geographically into two parts.
9. What fear did Virginia have about the new Constitution? ( 1 point)
The Constitution, however, provided for majority rule, which means that more than one half of a
group holds the power to make decisions binding on the entire group. The North, Virginia Antifederalists warned, would then dictate policy in trade, slavery, and other important
issues bearing on the southern economy.
10. Who was responsible for the creation of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution? (1 point)
James Madison
11. Why did Jefferson and Madison support freedom of religion? ( 1 point)
Jefferson and Madison believed that government enforcement of religious laws was the source of
much social conflict. They supported freedom of religion as a way to prevent such conflict.
12. What are the two different guarantees that Americans have concerning religious freedom? ( 2
points)
: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof . . .” This means that the government may never support one particular religion, favor one
faith above another, or interfere with anyone’s religious freedom.
13. Why is the U.S. Constitution referred to as a “living document”? (1 point)
It was the first step in making the Constitution a living document, one that
can be amended to reflect the changes in society