Questions: Why did the Federalists believe that the Constitution would prevent the national government from gaining too much power? (1 point) It included a bill of rights. It divided the federal government into three branches. It won the support of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. It required the approval of 9 of the 13 states.

The answer is: It divided the federal government into three branches.

Explanation for each option:

1. It included a bill of rights.

   • This is incorrect. The original Constitution did not include a Bill of Rights; the Bill of Rights was added later as the first ten amendments to address concerns about individual liberties.

2. It divided the federal government into three branches.

   • This is correct. The Federalists believed that the separation of powers into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches would prevent any one branch from gaining too much power. This system of checks and balances was designed to ensure that power would be distributed and that each branch could limit the powers of the others.

3. It won the support of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

   • This is incorrect. While the support of prominent figures like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin was influential in gaining public support for the Constitution, it was not a structural feature that prevented the national government from gaining too much power.

4. It required the approval of 9 of the 13 states.

   • This is incorrect. The requirement for ratification by 9 of the 13 states was a procedural step to ensure the Constitution's adoption, but it did not directly address the issue of preventing the national government from gaining too much power.