Race to Ratify

Last updated about 4 years ago

20 questions

1

8

1

8

Draggable item		Corresponding Item

1. Your Liberty Is At Stake! The states are, and should remain, the core of our republic. It is there that the people can be properly represented. When states have to bend to the central government's will, the people will pay with their liberty

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

2. Leave It to the Experts The common people do not have the refinement to participate directly in the government. A chosen body of citizens will refine the desires of the masses and apply their wisdom to ruling the nation.

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

3. A Good Investment A government simply cannot operate, provide critical services, and support a military without money. A reasonable amount of taxes is needed to maintain a functional federal government. The alternative is a do-nothing government and non-existent national defense. Growth and improvement cost money, but are worth the investment.

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

4. Save It for Later Critics from both sides have complained about how slavery is treated in this proposed Constitution. Some wanted more protections for the institution of slavery, while others wanted it abolished entirely. The only way to move forward is to compromise. We must leave this debate to the future.

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

5. What Size Crown? After our breakup (and war) with King George III a few years back, why would we want another king at the head of our new government? Supporters say that the president will be elected. I don't think that means he won't go looking for a crown.

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

6. Not Equal, Not Fair The Senate creates a completely unequal setting for legislation. As it stands, the tiny state of Delaware has as much representation in the Senate as a large and populous state like Virginia. How is this fair? How is this democratic?

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

7. To Do List: MAKE A LIST The supporters of the Constitution do not believe a listing of the rights of the people is necessary. They are wrong. We need a Bill of Rights to make sure the government doesn't take away our liberties.

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

8. Why Restrict Representation? I see no reason to restrict the representation of small states in the House. America deserves a government with balanced state power, giving each an equal seat at the table.

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

9. Judging the Judicial Opponents of the Constitution are trying to scare you away with unfounded tales about the judicial branch. Here's the truth—this is the smallest and least powerful branch in the government. It cannot tax you, command the military, or take away your rights. It is created to protect your liberty. Remember that.

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

10. Forget the List A written list of rights sounds like a great idea, until you think about it a little harder. Can we all agree on ten things, or even a hundred? Would those make up the whole list? What about something you think of later? Is it not protected? Putting things on paper makes it seem like there are only so many rights worth protecting.

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

Rebranded name of the Federalists _______. Slogan of the Federalists _______ 

Rebranded name of the Anti-Federalists _______ . Slogan of the Anti-Federalists _______ 

Which reason was NOT one used to argue for the ratification of the new Constitution?

A. It solved existing problems under the  Articles.

B. A president would become a king.

C. Congress addressed the needs of both  large and small states.

D. Congress needed the power to tax.

How many states were needed to ratify the Constitution before it could become law?

A. 13

B. 50

C. 5

D. 9

America has always had a plan for a strong central government.

True

False

The states had the most power under the U.S. Constitution.

True

False

Many people disagreed on the ratification of the Constitution in 1787.

True

False

A stronger central government was good news for Native American tribes.

True

False

Women had opinions on the future of the Constitution even though they could not vote.

True

False

What’s the Big Idea? Match each of the big ideas found in the game with an example from someone you may have interviewed in the game.

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
There is no middle man, no appointments—just democracy in its finest form.		The Executive
This is as far from “representative” as you can get. They aren’t elected. They serve long terms. They are not of the people.		House of Representatives
Didn’t we fight a revolution to get rid of a strong leader with too much power?		Taxation
It’s more about who’s taking the money, how it’s being used, and how the people gain from it.		The Judiciary
It's simply used as a bargaining token. Nothing more. The promises of that Preamble are not for my people.		The Senate
The more powerful the federal government gets, the weaker the states get. It’s pretty simple.		A Bill of Rights
Individual liberties are protected all over the place.		Slavery
I see no guarantee of the right to trial by jury in civil trials, which is a basic piece of civil government, by the way.		Extended Republic

1. Your Liberty Is At Stake!  The states are, and should remain,  the core of our republic. It is there  that the people can be properly  represented. When states have to  bend to the central government's  will, the people will pay with their  liberty

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

2. Leave It to the Experts  The common people do not have the  refinement to participate directly in  the government. A chosen body of  citizens will refine the desires of the  masses and apply their wisdom to  ruling the nation.

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

3. A Good Investment  A government simply cannot  operate, provide critical services,  and support a military without  money. A reasonable amount of  taxes is needed to maintain a  functional federal government. The  alternative is a do-nothing  government and non-existent  national defense. Growth and  improvement cost money, but are  worth the investment.

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

4. Save It for Later  Critics from both sides have  complained about how slavery is  treated in this proposed Constitution.  Some wanted more protections for  the institution of slavery, while  others wanted it abolished entirely.  The only way to move forward is to  compromise. We must leave this  debate to the future.

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

5. What Size Crown?  After our breakup (and war) with  King George III a few years back,  why would we want another king at  the head of our new government?  Supporters say that the president  will be elected. I don't think that  means he won't go looking for a  crown.

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

6. Not Equal, Not Fair  The Senate creates a completely  unequal setting for legislation. As it  stands, the tiny state of Delaware  has as much representation in the  Senate as a large and populous state  like Virginia. How is this fair? How is  this democratic?

Federalist

Anti-Federalist

7. To Do List: MAKE A LIST  The supporters of the Constitution  do not believe a listing of the rights  of the people is necessary. They  are wrong. We need a Bill of Rights  to make sure the government  doesn't take away our liberties.

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

8. Why Restrict Representation?  I see no reason to restrict the  representation of small states in the  House. America deserves a  government with balanced state  power, giving each an equal seat at  the table.

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

9. Judging the Judicial  Opponents of the Constitution are  trying to scare you away with  unfounded tales about the judicial  branch. Here's the truth—this is the  smallest and least powerful branch  in the government. It cannot tax  you, command the military, or take  away your rights. It is created to  protect your liberty. Remember  that.

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

10. Forget the List  A written list of rights sounds like a  great idea, until you think about it a  little harder. Can we all agree on ten  things, or even a hundred? Would  those make up the whole list? What  about something you think of later?  Is it not protected? Putting things on  paper makes it seem like there are  only so many rights worth  protecting.

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

Which reason was NOT one used to argue  for the ratification of the new Constitution?

A. It solved existing problems under the  Articles.

B. A president would become a king.

C. Congress addressed the needs of both  large and small states.

D. Congress needed the power to tax.

How many states were needed to ratify the  Constitution before it could become law?

A. 13

B. 50

C. 5

D. 9

America has always had a plan for a strong central government.

True

False

The states had the most power under the U.S. Constitution.

True

False

Many people disagreed on the ratification of the Constitution in 1787.

True

False

A stronger central government was good news for Native American tribes.

True

False

Women had opinions on the future of the Constitution even though they could not vote.

True

False

What’s the Big Idea? Match each of the big ideas found in the game with an example from  someone you may have interviewed in the game.

There is no middle man, no appointments—just democracy in its  finest form.

The Executive

This is as far from “representative” as you can get. They aren’t  elected. They serve long terms. They are not of the people.

House of Representatives

Didn’t we fight a revolution to get rid of a strong leader with too  much power?

Taxation

It’s more about who’s taking the money, how it’s being used, and  how the people gain from it.

The Judiciary

It's simply used as a bargaining token. Nothing more. The promises of that Preamble are not for my people.

The Senate

The more powerful the federal government gets, the weaker the  states get. It’s pretty simple.

A Bill of Rights

Individual liberties are protected all over the place.

Slavery

I see no guarantee of the right to trial by jury in civil trials, which is  a basic piece of civil government, by the way.

Extended Republic