The debate over the Constitution was a big deal when it was being approved. A group called the Antifederalists was especially worried. They had a few main concerns:

1. Worry About Too Much Power:

   • Antifederalists feared that the Constitution would allow the national government to become too strong.
   • They were concerned this would weaken state governments and lead to an unfair system, similar to when the British ruled over them.
   • They believed this could put people’s rights at risk.

2. No Protection for Individual Rights:

   • One of the biggest arguments against the Constitution was that it didn’t include a Bill of Rights.
   • The Antifederalists felt that without clear protections for personal freedoms, people could be mistreated by the government.
   • They thought it was very important to include rights like freedom of speech, religion, and the press to keep democracy safe.

3. Problems with Representation:

   • Many Antifederalists thought the new government wouldn’t truly represent everyday people.
   • They worried that only the wealthy and powerful would have a say in politics.
   • They believed that a system where all citizens could vote directly would better reflect everyone’s voices.

To address these concerns, they decided to add the Bill of Rights, which includes the first ten amendments to the Constitution. This was a way to protect individual freedoms and limit government power.

However, the discussions that led to this solution showed that there was a lot of distrust among the states and strong disagreements in the country. Fixing these issues would be tough over time. Even though the Constitution can be changed, bringing everyone together and building trust between different states will need ongoing conversations and dedication from all sides.