Which group opposed ratification and called for a Bill of Rights?

• A. Federalists
• B. Antifederalists
• C. House of Representatives
• D. Senators

Answer: (B)

The question tests understanding of who pushed for explicit protections for individual liberties during the fight over the new Constitution. The group that opposed ratification and pressed for a Bill of Rights argued that the Constitution gave the national government too much power and did not protect basic freedoms. They feared that without explicit rights, citizens could be subjected to government overreach, so they insisted on a Bill of Rights to curb federal authority and safeguard liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and due process. Their persistent advocacy helped secure the promise to add amendments, which culminated in the first ten amendments being ratified later.

The alternative groups aren’t the right fit here because the Federalists supported ratification and generally did not demand a Bill of Rights at the outset, focusing instead on the Constitution’s checks and balances. The House of Representatives and the Senate are branches of government, not organized opposition movements, so they aren’t the group that opposed ratification in this historical context.