What was the major objection to the ratification of the Constitution?

Asked by: Prof. Leola Leuschke  |  Last update: May 27, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (66 votes)

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 a major objection to the Constitution during the ratification process?

We now know that the Federalists prevailed, and the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, and went into effect in 1789. Read about their arguments below. Anti-Federalists argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, while taking too much power away from state and local governments.

What was a major obstacle to the ratification of the Constitution?

The most significant obstacle that the Founding Fathers faced when trying to ratify the Constitution was the lack of a Bill of Rights. Many opponents, especially in key states like New York and Virginia, were concerned that the new federal government would infringe upon individual liberties.

What was the main argument against ratification of the Constitution?

In the ratification debate, the Anti-Federalists opposed to the Constitution. They complained that the new system threatened liberties, and failed to protect individual rights.

What was the main objection to the Constitution?

1. There is no Declaration of Rights, and the laws of the general government being paramount to the laws and constitution of the several States, the Declarations of Rights in the separate States are no security. Nor are the people secured even in the enjoyment of the benefit of the common law. 2.

Ratification of the Constitution, by Professor John Kaminski

31 related questions found

What was the biggest argument against the new constitution?

The Supremacy Clause generated significant controversy during debates over the Constitution's ratification. Anti-Federalist opponents of the Constitution argued that the Clause would make the national government overly powerful and infringe on state sovereignty.

Did George Mason want the Constitution to be ratified?

As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Mason refused to sign the Constitution and lobbied against its ratification in his home state, believing the document as drafted gave too much power to a central government and was incomplete absent a bill of rights to guarantee individual liberty.

Who were the main opponents of ratification of the Constitution?

The Anti-Federalists opposed the new Constitution. The Anti-Federalist camp included a group of founding-era heavyweights, including: Virginia's George Mason, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee. Massachusetts's Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, and Mercy Otis Warren.

What was the main argument against ratification of the Constitution brainly?

Final answer:

The Anti-Federalists had several arguments against the ratification of the Constitution, including concerns about an overly powerful national government, the absence of a bill of rights, and inadequate protection for the rights of individual states.

What were some of the major points of disagreement during the ratification of the Constitution?

A central issue at the Convention was whether the federal government or the states would have more power. Many delegates believed that the federal government should be able to overrule state laws, but others feared that a strong federal government would oppress their citizens.

What was the biggest obstacle to ratifying the Constitution?

what would be the biggest obstacle to ratifying the new constitution, if they were bound by the amendment rules of the articles of confederation? Unanimous consent of the state legislatures was needed.

What was the major issue with getting the Constitution ratified?

The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights. The ratification campaign was a nail-biter.

What was the biggest obstacle in getting the Constitution ratified?

The greatest challenge is persuading the Anti-Federalists to support the Constitution's ratification. A bill of rights was the primary demand of the anti-federalists, but it wasn't granted until much later.

Which of the following was a major obstacle to the ratification of the Constitution?

One main obstacle to the ratification of the Constitution was the number of representatives each state would have in Congress. For the Constitution to be the law, it had to be ratified by the President.

Why was the Constitution difficult to ratify?

The United States Constitution was written "to endure for ages to come" Chief Justice John Marshall wrote in the early 1800s. To ensure it would last, the framers made amending the document a difficult task.

What was a major factor leading to the ratification of the Constitution?

Important takeaways

To get the Constitution ratified by all 13 states, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention had to reach several compromises. The three major compromises were the Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths Compromise, and the Electoral College.

What was the main argument against the ratification of the Constitution?

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 the major argument of those who opposed ratification?

What was their major argument against ratification? The main opposition to the new Constitution came from a group called the "Anti-Federalists". This group of was focused mainly on the freedoms that would be lost with the new stronger Constitution.

What are 10 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Weaknesses
  • Each state only had one vote in Congress, regardless of size.
  • Congress did not have the power to tax.
  • Congress did not have the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.
  • There was no executive branch to enforce any acts passed by Congress.
  • There was no national court system or judicial branch.

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?

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.

Who is the father of the constitution?

James Madison, America's fourth President (1809-1817), made a major contribution to the ratification of the Constitution by writing The Federalist Papers, along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. In later years, he was referred to as the “Father of the Constitution.”

Why did Patrick Henry oppose the Constitution?

Henry feared Constitution would give federal government too much power.

What issue did the 9th Amendment ultimately remedy?

The Ninth Amendment clearly rebutted the possible presumption that enumeration of some rights precluded the recognition of others. By its terms, it provides that the enumeration of specific rights should not be “construed to deny or disparage” other rights.

What were George Mason's objections to the Constitution?

Many were not pleased with the document that was drafted. One of George Mason's objections was that he thought the Constitution did not adequately protect U.S. citizens without a Bill of Rights. Since no Bill of Rights was intended to be added before the document was ratified, he chose not to sign the Constitution.