Question

What was the Federalists’ argument for not adding a separate bill of rights to the Constitution?
A separate bill of rights might be used later to weaken America’s reputation.
A separate bill of rights be might used later to free enslaved people.
A separate bill of rights was unnecessary because the new government would have limited power.
A separate bill of rights was unnecessary because the Constitution was not taking away any rights from citizens.

Answer 1

A separate bill of rights was unnecessary because the new government would have limited power.

Federalists argued the Constitution only granted enumerated powers to the national government, so a bill of rights wasn’t needed and might even be harmful by implying any unlisted rights weren’t protected.