BYU American Heritage Practice Test

Federalist #84, written by Alexander Hamilton, primarily argues against the necessity of a Bill of Rights in the proposed Constitution. Hamilton contends that the Constitution itself inherently limits the powers of the government, and by doing so, it preserves the rights of the people without needing explicit enumeration. He emphasizes that the government is only granted the authority to act in areas expressly outlined within the Constitution, which inherently protects individual liberties.

The idea that a Bill of Rights is not only unnecessary but could even be dangerous is also a critical aspect of Hamilton's argument; he suggests that listing specific rights may imply that any unlisted rights are not protected. Thus, the understanding of the Constitution from Hamilton's perspective is that the rights of individuals are inherently preserved as long as the government adheres to the defined limits of its power. This serves to define the foundational assertion made in Federalist #84 regarding the Constitution and rights.