The Massachusetts compromise refers to the solution that was reached in a controversy between Federalists and anti-Federalists in the debate over the ratification of the United States Constitution. The compromise helped sway sufficient support for the document to ensure its ratification and lead to the adoption of the first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights. In the United States, Federalism is a label applied to at least three distinct political movements: During the 1780s, Federalism was a movement whose governing philosophy was that national government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak. ... The Anti-Federalist Party, though not a true political party, but a faction, left a major legacy on the country by initiating the Bill of Rights. ... The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... A bill of rights is a statement of certain rights which, under a societys laws, citizens and/or residents either have, want to have, or ought to have. ...

Anti-Federalists feared that the Constitution would overly centralize government and diminish individual rights and liberties. They sought to amend the Constitution, particularly with a Bill of Rights as a condition before ratification. Federalists insisted that the document had to be accepted or rejected as written. A bill of rights is a statement of certain rights which, under a societys laws, citizens and/or residents either have, want to have, or ought to have. ...

When efforts to ratify the Constitution encountered serious opposition in Massachusetts two noted anti-Federalists, John Hancock and John Adams helped negotiate a compromise. The anti-Federalists agreed to support ratification of the constitution, with recomendations for amendments should the document go into effect. The Federalists agreed to support the proposed amendments, specifically a bill of rights. State nickname: Bay State Official languages English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Governor Mitt Romney (R) Senators Edward Kennedy (D) John Kerry (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 44th 27,360 km² 25. ... Portrait of Hancock (full portrait) Hancocks signature on the United States Declaration of Independence John Hancock (January 12, 1737 (O.S.) – October 8, 1793 (N.S.)) was President of the Continental Congress, and the first person to sign the United States Declaration of Independence. ... John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was the first (1789–1797) Vice President of the United States, and the second (1797–1801) President of the United States. ...

Following this compromise, Massachusetts voted to ratify the Constitution on February 6, 1788. Five states subsequently voted for ratification, four of which followed the Massachusetts model of recommending amendments along with their ratification.

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Ratification of the Constitution