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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.

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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.Why did several states ratify only after a promise was made?
  • A.Congress promised each state a capital city
  • B.Federalists promised to add amendments protecting rights
  • C.The king promised to lower taxes
2.In what year was the Bill of Rights ratified?
  • A.1865
  • B.1776
  • C.1791
3.Who were the Federalists?
  • A.People who supported the British king
  • B.People who opposed any national government
  • C.People who supported ratifying the Constitution
4.What did many Anti-Federalists say the Constitution was missing?
  • A.A Congress
  • B.A list of the people's rights
  • C.A president
5.What is an amendment?
  • A.A new president
  • B.A court case
  • C.A change or addition to the Constitution
6.Which three men wrote essays urging New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution?
  • A.Patrick Henry, George Mason and Samuel Adams
  • B.Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and Paul Revere
  • C.Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay
7.Why did Madison at first think a bill of rights was not needed?
  • A.He wanted a king
  • B.He did not believe in rights
  • C.He thought the Constitution already limited the government's powers
8.Who drafted the amendments that became the Bill of Rights?
  • A.George Washington
  • B.Benjamin Franklin
  • C.James Madison

LessonPrint · D2.Civ.3.3-5 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Add a Bill of Rights?

Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Federalists promised to add amendments protecting rights
  2. 2.1791
  3. 3.People who supported ratifying the Constitution
  4. 4.A list of the people's rights
  5. 5.A change or addition to the Constitution
  6. 6.Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay
  7. 7.He thought the Constitution already limited the government's powers
  8. 8.James Madison

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