7.4c - Historical Development of the Constitution: - Practices A through E

Which concern is most clearly supported by evidence in Document A?

Using evidence from Document A, explain why compromises were needed to ratify the Constitution.

In your paragraph, cite at least two specific ideas or phrases from the document and connect them to the debate over states’ rights, federal power, and protections for individual freedoms.

Which ratification-era compromise most directly responds to the concern expressed in Document A?

In 2–3 sentences, explain how adding a Bill of Rights could address the concern in Document A while still allowing a stronger national government.

Reference one idea from the document as evidence.

Which constitutional feature best shows how federalism addressed fears of federal power during ratification?

Based on Document B, which development most directly explains why delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787?

Using evidence from Document B, explain in chronological order why compromises were needed to ratify the Constitution.

In your paragraph, cite at least two dates or time references from the document and connect them to concerns about federal power, states’ rights, and individual freedoms.

Which event happened first in the sequence described in Document B?

According to the sequence in Document B, what promise came after the 1788 ratification debates to address concerns about rights?

In 2–3 sentences, explain how the timing of adding a declaration of rights could help win ratification. Reference one time clue (such as 1788 or “soon after”) from Document B as evidence.

In 2–3 sentences, explain how promising to add a Bill of Rights helped place the debate in context and win support for ratification.

Reference one idea from Document C as evidence.

Which problem under the Articles of Confederation provides the best context for why many Federalists supported a stronger central government?

Which statement best matches the Federalist viewpoint in Document C?

Using evidence from Document C, compare the Federalist and Anti-Federalist viewpoints.

In your paragraph, include at least one specific idea from each side and explain how these competing concerns led to compromises during ratification.

Which statement best matches the Anti-Federalist viewpoint in Document C?

Based on the map, which region shows the greatest concentration of early ratifications (1787–early 1788)?

Which group of states on the map would be the best evidence for identifying areas where support for ratification may have taken longer to build?

Which conclusion is best supported by the map’s regional pattern of ratification timing?

Using evidence from Document D, compare two regions (for example, New England vs. the South) in terms of ratification timing.

In your paragraph, explain how these regional differences help contextualize disagreements over federal power, states’ rights, and protections for individual freedoms.

In 2–3 sentences, explain how a promise to add a Bill of Rights could address the concerns of later-ratifying states shown on the map.

Reference one map detail (such as a legend category or region) as evidence.

Using evidence from Document E, explain how economic problems under the Articles of Confederation influenced the debate over ratifying the Constitution.

In your paragraph, cite at least two specific pieces of evidence (such as the table or a phrase) and explain why compromises were still needed.

Which economic problem is most clearly supported by evidence in Document E?

Even if the Constitution could improve trade and revenue, which concern would many Anti-Federalists still raise during ratification?

Which conclusion best connects the economic evidence in Document E to a Federalist argument for the Constitution?

In 2–3 sentences, explain how adding a Bill of Rights could function as a compromise for people who wanted economic stability but feared stronger federal power.

Reference one economic issue from Document E as context.