Changes

The Constitution itself (before passage of the Bill of Rights adding the first ten amendments) contains several important protections of individual rights, including a right to a jury trial and a prohibition on any bill of attainder, which was a practice in England whereby the legislature would punish an individual by expressly and specifically naming him in legislation.  Under the Constitution, only courts can punish individual citizens.  Also, the Constitution banned nobility as exists in England, and spoke in terms of "citizens" in contrast to Britain, where the people were merely "subjects" of the King or Queen until 1948.

The Constitution itself (before passage of the Bill of Rights adding the first ten amendments) contains several important protections of individual rights, including a right to a jury trial and a prohibition on any bill of attainder, which was a practice in England whereby the legislature would punish an individual by expressly and specifically naming him in legislation.  Under the Constitution, only courts can punish individual citizens.  Also, the Constitution banned nobility as exists in England, and spoke in terms of "citizens" in contrast to Britain, where the people were merely "subjects" of the King or Queen until 1948.

The Constitution was then sent to the states to consider ratifying it.  Every state except Rhode Island held a ratifying convention to consider adopting it.  Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly (the first state to ratify it was Delaware), because they liked the idea of having equal representation in the Senate.  But bigger states, such as [[Massachusetts]], [Virginia]] and [[New York]], were more reluctant to give up their power to a national government.

The Constitution was then sent to the states to consider ratifying it.  Every state except Rhode Island held a ratifying convention to consider adopting it.  Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly (the first state to ratify it was Delaware), because they liked the idea of having equal representation in the Senate.  But bigger states, such as [[Massachusetts]], [[Virginia]] and [[New York]], were more reluctant to give up their power to a national government.

The debate over ratification in the large states pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, George Mason, and John Hancock).  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked the Bill of Rights but also because they disliked creating a powerful new central government.

The debate over ratification in the large states pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, George Mason, and John Hancock).  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked the Bill of Rights but also because they disliked creating a powerful new central government.