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.

Why Add a Bill of Rights?

D2.Civ.3.3-5

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1.Why did several states ratify only after a promise was made?

A.The king promised to lower taxes
B.Federalists promised to add amendments protecting rights
C.Congress promised each state a capital city

2.What did Anti-Federalists fear about the new Constitution?

A.The government would have no Congress
B.A strong national government could take away people's rights
C.The states would have too much land

3.How many amendments were ratified in 1791 as the Bill of Rights?

A.Five
B.Ten
C.Twenty-seven

4.In what year was the Bill of Rights ratified?

A.1776
B.1791
C.1865

5.Who drafted the amendments that became the Bill of Rights?

A.George Washington
B.Benjamin Franklin
C.James Madison

6.What did many Anti-Federalists say the Constitution was missing?

A.A president
B.A list of the people's rights
C.A Congress

7.What is an amendment?

A.A new president
B.A change or addition to the Constitution
C.A court case

8.Which Virginia delegate refused to sign the Constitution because it had no bill of rights?

A.James Madison
B.Alexander Hamilton
C.George Mason

LessonPrint · D2.Civ.3.3-5 · Set 19 · free to copy for classroom use

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

Answer key — Why Add a Bill of Rights?