How the U.S. Constitution Was Ratified

What does "ratify" mean?

• To write a new law

• To approve and make something official

• To argue about the Constitution

• To change the government

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Why were some people against the Constitution at first?

• They thought it was too short.

• They wanted the country to go back to being ruled by Britain.

• They worried the national government would have too much power.

• They believed the Constitution would end slavery.

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What were The Federalist Papers?

• A book of laws that replaced the Constitution

• Essays that supported the Constitution and explained why it was needed

• A newspaper written by George Washington

• A list of problems with the Constitution

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Why was John Jay important in the ratification of the Constitution?

• He helped write The Federalist Papers and explained why a strong government was needed.

• He refused to support the Constitution.

• He fought in a war to defend the Constitution.

• He wrote the entire Bill of Rights.

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Which state was the ninth to ratify the Constitution, making it official?

• New York

• Virginia

• New Hampshire

• Pennsylvania

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Why was it important for New York and Virginia to ratify the Constitution?

• They were big states, and their support was needed to unite the country.

• They were the first states to write the Constitution.

• They had the smallest populations.

• They had no interest in being part of the United States.

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What convinced some states to approve the Constitution?

• The promise that a Bill of Rights would be added

• The support of the King of England

• The fear that the country would be taken over by another nation

• A new law that forced every state to agree

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What did the Bill of Rights do?

• Gave more power to the national government

• Took away freedoms from citizens

• Protected the rights of people, such as freedom of speech and religion

• Replaced the U.S. Constitution with a different one

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What does this passage tell us about Alexander Hamilton?

• He was against the Constitution.

• He worked hard to convince people to support the new government.

• He became the first president.

• He wanted the states to remain weak and divided.

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What is the main idea of this passage?

• The Constitution was written in one day and quickly approved.

• The Constitution was debated, and leaders like Hamilton and Jay helped get it ratified.

• The Constitution failed, and the country created a new one.

• The Bill of Rights was the only important part of the Constitution.

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