What rights were missing in the Constitution before all states ratified the document?
Asked by: Kailyn Dooley PhD | Last update: January 25, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (51 votes)
Some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and press.
What Rights were not in the original Constitution?
Many of the rights and liberties Americans cherish—such as freedom of speech, religion, and due process of law—were not enumerated in the original Constitution drafted at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787, but were included in the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights.
What was missing from the original Constitution that prevented ratification?
The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the 1787 U.S. Constitution because they feared that the new national government would be too powerful and thus threaten individual liberties, given the absence of a bill of rights.
What was added to the Constitution that listed Rights not already in the document?
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. It spells out Americans' rights in relation to their government.
What was prior to the ratification of the Constitution?
Prior to the ratification of the Constitution, the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution of the United States from 1777 until it was replaced by the current U.S. Constitution in 1789.
When was the Constitution written and ratified?
What troubles did they have in ratifying the Constitution?
Anti-Federalists feared that the Constitution concentrated too much power in the federal government at the expense of states' rights. They also criticized the absence of a Bill of Rights, arguing that the Constitution did not adequately protect individual liberties.
Was the Constitution signed before it was ratified?
Three months later, on September 17, 1787, the Convention concluded with the signing (by 38 out of 41 delegates present) of the new U.S. Constitution. Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states.
What are 5 Rights that are not listed in the Constitution?
Because the rights protected by the Ninth Amendment are not specified, they are referred to as “unenumerated.” The Supreme Court has found that unenumerated rights include such important rights as the right to travel, the right to vote, the right to keep personal matters private and to make important decisions about ...
What was added to the Constitution that was not already in the Constitution?
The answer to this question is The Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, and they list specific rights and freedoms that were not initially included in the Constitution itself. These rights include freedom of speech, religion, and the right to a fair trial.
What Rights were originally included in the Constitution?
- First Amendment: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly.
- Second Amendment: the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
- Third Amendment: restricts housing soldiers in private homes.
- Fourth Amendment: protects against unreasonable search and seizure.
What amendment failed to be ratified?
The second proposed amendment to have failed of ratification is the Equal Rights Amendment, which formally died on June 30, 1982, after a disputed congressional extension of the original seven-year period for ratification.
Why were slaves counted as 3/5 of a whole person?
Viewed the opposite way, by including three-fifths of slaves in the legislative apportionment (even though they had no voting rights), the Three-fifths Compromise provided additional representation in the House of Representatives of slave states compared to the free states, if representation had been considered based ...
What is one of the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation prior to 1787?
With the passage of time, weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation became apparent; Congress commanded little respect and no support from state governments anxious to maintain their power. Congress could not raise funds, regulate trade, or conduct foreign policy without the voluntary agreement of the states.
What was left out of the original Constitution?
For example, lacking the Thirteenth Amendment, the original Constitution permitted slavery to continue; lacking the Nineteenth Amendment, it did not secure the right of women to vote; and, lacking the First Amendment, it provided no protection for religious freedom, not to mention other rights.
Which right isn't guaranteed in the First Amendment?
Incitement to Imminent Lawless Action
The First Amendment does not protect speech that incites people to break the law, including to commit acts of violence.
What is the one thing in the Constitution that can never be changed?
It would be a rare person indeed who would accurately respond that the guarantee to each state of equal suffrage in the Senate is the only constitutional provision that is now expressly unamendable under the Constitution's own terms.
What did the original Constitution lack?
In the early republic full religious freedom as we understand it today, was scarce. That the original Constitution never provided equal rights for African Americans, free or slave, is undeniable. Nor did it supply citizenship to free blacks. As with religious liberty, citizenship qualifications were left to the states.
What was added to the Constitution that listed rights that aren't already in the Constitution?
Constitutional Amendments – Amendment 9 – “Enumerated Rights of the People” Amendment Nine to the Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. It clarifies that the document is not a comprehensive list of every right of the citizen, and that the yet-unnamed rights are entitled to protection by the law.
Which of the following was not included in the original Constitution that was ratified?
Explanation: The original Constitution as drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1788 didn't include the concepts of freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. These important civil liberties were not covered in the primary body of the Constitution, despite being fundamental rights in many state constitutions.
What law is not in the Constitution?
The Constitution makes no mention of judicial review, which is common in our legal system now. Judicial review goes back to English common law and was affirmed during the 34-year tenure of Chief Justice John Marshall in the landmark case Marbury v. Madison in 1803.
What is the most amount of years a president can serve?
Following on the heels of the establishment of the Hoover Commission and with Republicans winning a majority in Congress after the 1946 elections, they introduced an amendment to limit the president to two terms. The amendment caps the service of a president at 10 years.
Why is the 8th amendment important?
Protection against cruel and unusual punishments is at the heart of the Eighth Amendment. It ensures that punishments inflicted by the state remain humane and proportional to the offense committed. The amendment does not explicitly define what constitutes unconstitutional, "cruel and unusual" punishments.
What would have happened if the Constitution was not ratified?
In order for the Constitution to take effect, nine of the 13 states would have to ratify. But even if that minimum number were met without ratification by powerful states such as Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York, the new government would not hold.
Which state has the most signers to the Constitution?
Which state has the most signers to the Constitution? Pennsylvania. There were 34 delegates to the Continental and Confederation Congress who signed the United States Constitution, eight of whom hailed from Pennsylvania.
What was the first state in the United States?
Delaware was one of the Thirteen Colonies that participated in the American Revolution against Great Britain, which established the United States as an independent nation. On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, earning it the nickname "The First State".