Why did Alexander Hamilton oppose adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution?
(1 point)
Responses
He was afraid it would actually limit individuals' rights by not listing them all.
He was afraid it would actually limit individuals' rights by not listing them all.
He feared it would cause the defeat and eventual elimination of the U.S. Constitution.
He feared it would cause the defeat and eventual elimination of the U.S. Constitution.
He did not believe in individual rights and believed the federal government should have more power.
He did not believe in individual rights and believed the federal government should have more power.
He did not support the Confederacy and wanted the southern states to leave the Union.
He did not support the Confederacy and wanted the southern states to leave the Union.
The correct answer is:
He was afraid it would actually limit individuals' rights by not listing them all.
The correct response is:
He was afraid it would actually limit individuals' rights by not listing them all.
The correct response is: He was afraid it would actually limit individuals' rights by not listing them all.
Alexander Hamilton opposed adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution because he believed that by listing some rights, it would imply that the federal government had the power to restrict any rights that were not explicitly mentioned. He argued that if certain rights were specifically enumerated, it could be misconstrued that those were the only rights protected, and any rights not listed would not be protected.
Hamilton's stance was based on his belief in a strong central government. He believed that the Constitution already outlined the powers and limitations of the federal government, and that the inclusion of a Bill of Rights could potentially limit the government's authority by implying that the listed rights were the only ones protected.
It is important to note that Hamilton's opposition to a Bill of Rights did not diminish his belief in the importance of protecting individual rights. He simply believed that the Constitution itself provided sufficient safeguards for individual liberties without the need for a specific enumeration of rights.