A) lack of a bill of rights CORRECT The Anti-Federalists' primary objection was the absence of a bill of rights. They argued that the Constitution, as drafted, did not sufficiently protect individual liberties from potential government abuse. This concern was so significant that it became the central issue in the ratification debates, leading to the eventual adoption of the Bill of Rights in 1791. The first ten amendments guarantee fundamental freedoms such as speech, religion, and due process, directly addressing the Anti-Federalists' fears.
B) presence of an electoral college INCORRECT The electoral college was not a major point of contention for the Anti-Federalists. While some delegates had concerns about the method of presidential election, it was not the primary focus of their opposition. The electoral college was a compromise between direct popular election and selection by Congress, and it did not evoke the same level of fear as the lack of a bill of rights. Anti-Federalists were more concerned with the overall structure of the federal government and its potential to infringe on states' rights and individual liberties.
C) creation of a bicameral legislature INCORRECT The creation of a bicameral legislature was not a major objection for the Anti-Federalists. In fact, most state legislatures at the time were bicameral, and the structure of Congress was seen as a necessary compromise between large and small states. The Great Compromise, which established a two-house legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate, was generally accepted. Anti-Federalists were more concerned with the lack of direct representation and the potential for the federal government to become too powerful, but the bicameral structure itself was not a central issue.
D) weakness of the judicial branch INCORRECT The Anti-Federalists did not object to the weakness of the judicial branch; rather, they feared that the federal judiciary would become too powerful. They were concerned about the lack of a bill of rights to protect citizens from federal court rulings and the potential for the Supreme Court to overstep its bounds. The Constitution established a federal judiciary with life tenure and broad jurisdiction, which Anti-Federalists saw as a threat to state courts and individual rights. Their objections focused on the concentration of power in the federal government, not on the weakness of any particular branch.
