Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation

Directions

1. Read Every Slide

2. Watch every Video- They are only 2-3 minutes long

3. Answer all Questions

The Articles of Confederation

While the Founding Fathers were united in their belief that the colonies needed to be free and independent from Great Britain, they disagreed on what the new nation's government should be. One of the most significant disagreements was on how strong the central government should be. They had just fought a war trying to free themselves from a strong central government (the Monarchy of Great Britain.).

In this lesson, you will learn about the United States of America's first government, created by our first Constitution, the Articles of Confederation. You will learn why the Founding Fathers originally wanted to create a weak central government, the Articles of Confederation's strengths and weaknesses, and why it ultimately failed and was replaced.

The Articles of Confederation

Creating a new government is not an easy task, and it took more than one attempt for the colonists to complete the Articles of Confederation. As you watch this video, pay attention to the type of government that was created, the rights that states were given, and how it ultimately failed.

The Articles of Confederation

 Was written to create a weak central government with limited power. In the end, this was also its downfall. In creating a government that protected the rights of the states, the Articles of Confederation had also created a central government too weak to function effectively.

The Articles of Confederation

One of the biggest problems was that the central government could not impose taxes upon the states. To make sure that there was not "taxation without representation," the Articles of Confederation only allowed state governments to tax its citizens. The central government had to ask the states for money. The states often did not give the central government all the money it needed, and the new government was left unable to pay back the money that it had borrowed to fight the American Revolution. Other countries did not want to loan the new nation money because they were unsure whether they could pay it back.

The Articles of Confederation

Both the central government and the state governments printed their own money. This meant that there were many different types of money used in the United States, which created confusion. This confusion made printed money almost useless. If someone did not recognize the currency or the bank it came from, they refused to accept it as real money.

Also, because the central government could not charge tariffs on imported goods (which came from foreign countries), it could not prevent British merchants from flooding the U.S. market with low-priced goods. American producers suffered from this competition. Sighting the central government's inability to govern trade inside the country, states imposed tariffs on imported goods (including those produced by other states), inflating the cost of producing goods in the United States.

The national government also lacked the power to create its own military. Fearing a standing army employed by a tyrannical government led the Articles of Confederation writers to leave defense largely to the states. Although the central government could declare war and agree to peace, it depended upon the states to provide soldiers. If state governors chose not to honor the national government's request, the country would not have the ability to defend itself.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a weakness in the Articles of Confederation?

• Congress couldn't collect taxes
• Weak national government
• Provided no common currency/money for all 13 states
• All of the  above

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a weakness in the Articles of Confederation?

• Congress couldn't collect taxes
• Weak national government
• Provided no common currency/money for all 13 states
• All of the  above

Multiple Choice

Under the Articles of Confederation, how many votes did each state get?

• Zero
• One
• Two 
• Three

Multiple Choice

Which of the following weaknesses  in the Articles of Confederation does  this picture represent?

• no common currency (money)
• no executive branch
• no power to tax
• one vote for each state

Multiple Choice

Why did the Articles of Confederation establish a weak central government? (1.4)

• To promote Western Migration
• To allow colonies to pay off their debts
• To protect the power of the states
• To help contain nationalism

Multiple Choice

Why was it difficult to make changes to the Articles of Confederation?

• The British government would not allow it
• It did not allow Congress to regulate trade
• Any changes needed the approval of all 13 states
• Congress had no power to collect taxes

Multiple Choice

In the Articles of Confederation, where was most of the government power placed?

• The States
• The National Government
• The Continental Congress
• The Legislative Branch

Multiple Choice

Which strong feature of the Articles of Confederation created a method for territories to become states?

• The ability to sign peace treaties
• Shays' Rebellion
• Northwest Ordinance
• 60,000 Ordinance

Multiple Choice

One weakness of the Articles of the Confederation was ____________. 

• The ability of Congress to tax.
• The inability of Congress to tax.
• The ability of Congress to declare war.
• The ability of Congress to create courts.

Multiple Choice

Ultimately, the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation lead to the adoption of:

• The Treaty of Paris
• The Affordable Care Act
• The U.S. Constitution
• The Declaration of Independence

Multiple Choice

Which of the following events lead to a decision by the colonies to meet and revise the Articles of Confederation?

• The Boston Tea Party
• Shay’s Rebellion
• The Revolutionary War
• The Civil War

Multiple Choice

What did Shays' Rebellion help Americans realize they needed?

• A strong national government
• A stronger militia
• A common currency
• The ability to sign peace treaties

Multiple Choice

Which strong feature of the Articles of Confederation created a method for territories to become states?

• The ability to sign peace treaties
• Shays' Rebellion
• Northwest Ordinance
• 60,000 Ordinance

Multiple Choice

Americans were afraid that a __?__ would lead to tyranny, or oppressive rule.

• strong state government
• weak government
• strong central government
• legslature

Multiple Choice

Shays's Rebellion ....

• exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation in its inability to provide security for the country.

• led the country to repeal the Articles of Confederation and adopt the Constitution of the United States.

• was a minor incident that had very little effect on the early government of America.

• was America's first punk rock band.

Multiple Choice

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 _____

• allowed slavery in the northwest territory
• established a method for admitting new states to the Union
• made people move to the northwest
• did nothing

Multiple Choice

Shays' Rebellion was made up of which group of people?

• farmers and merchants
• bankers
• government leaders
• basketball players

Multiple Choice

In the Northwest Territory, what was not allowed? However, it was allowed in the original 13 states.

• farming

• house building

• slavery

• Native Americans

Multiple Choice

Which document was the United States' first official constitution?

• Articles of Confederation

• Declaration of Independence

• Mayflower Compact

• Magna Carta

Multiple Choice

What was the main reason for the difference in economic development in the Southern, Mid Atlantic, and New England colonies? (1.1)

• Extent of education in the colonies

• Methods of governing the colonies

• Religious convictions of the colonists

• Geographic conditions