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Why Add a Bill of Rights? is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on the reasons the Bill of Rights was added, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Civ.3.3-5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 17 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Why Add a Bill of Rights?

D2.Civ.3.3-5

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1.In what year was the Bill of Rights ratified?
  • A.1776
  • B.1865
  • C.1791
2.What did Anti-Federalists fear about the new Constitution?
  • A.The government would have no Congress
  • B.The states would have too much land
  • C.A strong national government could take away people's rights
3.What is an amendment?
  • A.A new president
  • B.A change or addition to the Constitution
  • C.A court case
4.Why did several states ratify only after a promise was made?
  • A.Federalists promised to add amendments protecting rights
  • B.Congress promised each state a capital city
  • C.The king promised to lower taxes
5.Why did Madison at first think a bill of rights was not needed?
  • A.He thought the Constitution already limited the government's powers
  • B.He did not believe in rights
  • C.He wanted a king
6.Who drafted the amendments that became the Bill of Rights?
  • A.Benjamin Franklin
  • B.George Washington
  • C.James Madison
7.Which Virginia delegate refused to sign the Constitution because it had no bill of rights?
  • A.James Madison
  • B.Alexander Hamilton
  • C.George Mason
8.Which three men wrote essays urging New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution?
  • A.Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay
  • B.Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and Paul Revere
  • C.Patrick Henry, George Mason and Samuel Adams

LessonPrint · D2.Civ.3.3-5 · Set 17 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Add a Bill of Rights?

Set 17. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1791
  2. 2.A strong national government could take away people's rights
  3. 3.A change or addition to the Constitution
  4. 4.Federalists promised to add amendments protecting rights
  5. 5.He thought the Constitution already limited the government's powers
  6. 6.James Madison
  7. 7.George Mason
  8. 8.Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Civ.3.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.