Strengths and Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Open Ended

Explain why the American Revolution sought a French alliance and discuss the significance of this alliance.

Open Ended

After winning independence, what do you think were the most important challenges the United States faced in creating a new nation?

Open Ended

What type of government should the former colonies create?

Multiple Choice

According to the slide, what was the primary intention behind the federal (central) government under the Articles of Confederation?

• To have a lot of power over the states

• To act as a monarchy

• To remain weak and allow states to be independent

• To control all economic decisions

Open Ended

Why do you think the colonists had a fear of giving the federal government too much power?

Open Ended

After reading about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, what do you think were its major strengths?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was a strength of the Articles of Confederation?

• Congress could collect taxes

• Congress could form new states

• There was a president

• Congress could regulate foreign trade

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• Congress could declare war

• Congress could collect taxes

• No president

• States kept their power and independence

Open Ended

Based on the cartoon and the list of weaknesses, what were some major problems faced by the government under the Articles of Confederation?

Open Ended

How did Shays' Rebellion contribute to the creation of a new form of government in the United States?

Multiple Select

Which of the following were causes of Shays' Rebellion?

• High property taxes

• Veterans not paid for their service

• Foreign invasion

• Loss of farms due to unpaid taxes

Open Ended

What questions do you still have about the creation of the United States government after the American Revolution?