Who disagreed with the Bill of Rights?

Asked by: Mrs. Vicky Metz  |  Last update: June 24, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (46 votes)

Supporters of the Constitution, the Federalists, thought a bill of rights was unnecessary and even dangerous. The authors of The Federalist Papers, including James Madison, argued for ratification of the Constitution without a bill of rights.

Who opposed the Bill of Rights?

Federalists rejected the proposition that a bill of rights was needed.

Who were the people against the Bill of Rights?

Federalists opposed the inclusion of a bill of rights as unnecessary. The Constitution's first draft established a system of checks and balances that included a strong executive branch, a representative legislature, and a federal judiciary—specifying what the government could do but not what it could not do.

Which group was against the Bill of Rights?

The Federalists felt a Bill of Rights was unnecessary. They said since the new Constitution limited the power of the government and since the people kept control of everything they did not say the government could do, no bill of individual rights was needed.

Who rejected the Bill of Rights to the Constitution?

When the Constitution was drafted in 1787, every state delegation in attendance rejected a Bill of Rights, saying it was unnecessary. Led by James Madison, the first Congress reversed course when it became clear that the new Constitution provoked broad public suspicion.

A 3-minute guide to the Bill of Rights - Belinda Stutzman

41 related questions found

Who opposed the Constitution until the Bill of Rights?

The Anti-Federalists's opposition to ratifying the Constitution was a powerful force in the origin of the Bill of Rights to protect Americans' civil liberties. The Anti-Federalists were chiefly concerned with too much power invested in the national government at the expense of states.

Who rejects the bill?

The veto power does not give the President the power to amend or alter the content of legislation—the President only has the ability to accept or reject an entire act passed by Congress. The President, however, can influence and shape legislation by a threat of a veto.

Which group didn t want a Bill of Rights?

When the Constitution was sent to the state conventions for ratification, the Anti-Federalists who were opposed to it agreed on the need for a bill of rights to protect the liberties of the people. Several Federalists, or those who supported the new Constitution, disagreed.

What did Alexander Hamilton say about the Bill of Rights?

Some Founding Fathers, most famously Alexander Hamilton, argued that it was not necessary to include a bill of rights in the Constitution. "the constitution is itself in every rational sense, and to every useful purpose, A BILL OF RIGHTS.

Who was against the civil rights bill?

Strong opposition to the bill also came from Senator Strom Thurmond, who was still a Democrat at the time: "This so-called Civil Rights Proposals [sic], which the President has sent to Capitol Hill for enactment into law, are unconstitutional, unnecessary, unwise and extend beyond the realm of reason.

Who was against the Constitution?

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.

Who did the bill of rights not apply to?

In the 1833 case of Barron v. Baltimore, the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Bill of Rights did not apply to state governments; such protections were instead provided by the constitutions of each state.

Did Anti-Federalists want a bill of rights?

The Constitution was ratified, but some reservations surfaced about its content. A critical minority, referred to as Anti-Federalists, insisted upon the addition of a bill of rights that would protect the rights of individual citizens, and demanded a new look at some of the Constitution's specific provisions.

Why were people against the Bill of Rights?

The Federalists opposed including a bill of rights on the ground that it was unnecessary. The Anti-Federalists, who were afraid of a strong centralized government, refused to support the Constitution without one. In the end, popular sentiment was decisive.

Who opposed an enumerated bill of rights?

In response to the Anti-Federalists' demand for a bill of rights to be added to the Constitution, some of the Federalists asserted that if such a bill was made, there would be a dangerous implication that those would be the only rights the citizenry would have.

Did Franklin oppose the Bill of Rights?

Benjamin Franklin: Franklin was a printer, scholar, philosopher, inventor, philanthropist, and Founding Father. He was a co-signer of the Bill of Rights.

Did Thomas Jefferson support the Bill of Rights?

Thomas Jefferson was a strong supporter of supplementing the Constitution with a bill of rights. Jefferson thought they would give an independent judiciary the means to curb any “tyranny” of the executive or legislative branches.

Did Madison support the Bill of Rights?

James Madison and other supporters of the Constitution argued that a bill of rights wasn't necessary because - “the government can only exert the powers specified by the Constitution.” But they agreed to consider adding amendments when ratification was in danger in the key state of Massachusetts.

Who supported the Bill of Rights?

Although many Federalists initially opposed such a bill on the basis that it was unnecessary because the Constitution had not entrusted powers to violate such rights to the three branches, to ensure ratification of the document, key Federalists, including James Madison, agreed to support such a bill of rights once the ...

What Bill of Rights were rejected?

In 1789, at the time of the submission of the Bill of Rights, twelve pro-were ratified and became the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Proposed Articles I and II were not ratified with these ten, but, in 1992, Article II was proclaimed as ratified, 203 years later.

Why did Patrick Henry oppose the Constitution?

Henry feared Constitution would give federal government too much power.

Who opposed the federalists?

Notable Anti-Federalists
  • Patrick Henry, Virginia.
  • Samuel Adams, Massachusetts.
  • Joshua Atherton, New Hampshire.
  • George Mason, Virginia.
  • Richard Henry Lee, Virginia.
  • Robert Yates, New York.
  • James Monroe, Virginia.
  • Amos Singletary, Massachusetts.

Who denies bills?

The President may veto bills Congress passes, but Congress may also override a veto by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

What branch coins money?

Among the many powers given to the legislative branch, or the Congress, are the powers to introduce bills, collect taxes, regulate commerce with foreign countries, coin money, and declare war.

What is rejection of bill called?

A veto is a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action. In the most typical case, a president or monarch vetoes a bill to stop it from becoming law. In many countries, veto powers are established in the country's constitution.