Chapter 5.2-The Articles of Confederation

​What are the Articles of Confederation?

By Jessica Freeman

Articles of Confederation

Strengths and Weaknesses

The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution for the United States of America

• Ratified by the 13 colonies in 1781

The Articles of Confederation gave states full and complete power to rule themselves causing a weak central government.

• Americans feared that if they gave too much power to the federal government they would be left with similar issues and concerns they had while under King George III rule.

• Americans thought that too much government power would infringe on their rights, and liberties they fought to get.

Multiple Choice

The Articles of Confederation formed a _______ Government?

• Strong

• Weak

• Powerful

Multiple Choice

Americans feared that if they gave the government too much _____ they would be left with similar issues they had while under King George III rule

• Power

• Money

• Freedom

Multiple Choice

Under the Articles of Confederation who had the most power?

• People

• National Government

• King

• States

Weaknesses under the Article of Confederation

• Congress could not collect taxes to pay back dept

• No common currency

• Weak national government

• No national court system

• Unable to enforce laws

• 9 out of 13 states had to vote in order to approve a law. Each state was only allowed one vote

• All states (13) had to vote in order to amend the Articles of Confederation.

Multiple Choice

Congress could collect tax?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Congress could enforce laws and force the states to obey those laws.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

There was no common currency/money for all 13 states.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

How many votes did congress need to approve a new law?

• 13

• 5

• 9

• 7

Multiple Choice

How many votes did each state get to contribute?

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

How many votes did congress need in order to make amendments to the Articles of Confederation?

• 9

• 7

• 50

• 13

Strengths under the Articles of Confederation

• Establish and maintain military

• Make Treaties

• Settle disputes among states

Multiple Choice

Congress was able to establish a national army to defeat the British in the American Revolution.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Congress granted all power to the national government and did not give states and free citizens rights.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Congress was able to negotiate the end of the American Revolution by signing the Treaty of Paris.

• True

• False

Today's Learning Targets:

• I will be able to identify the inability to tax as a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

• I will be able to identify the weak central government as a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

• I will be able to identify the impact of Shays’ Rebellion and how it underscored the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

SS Chapter 6

Articles of Confederation

Federal and State Constitutions

The United States has a system of government called federalism. This means power is shared between national and state governments. The national government is also called the federal government.

federalism- distribution of powers between national and state governments

Federal and State Constitutions

The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, so it applies to all states. However, each state has its own government and its own state constitution. The U.S. and state constitutions have some similarities.

state constitution- document that outlines governmental structure, political processes, and limitations on the use of power by a state

Multiple Choice

Each state has its own constitution.

• True

• False

The U.S. Constitution

The U.S. Constitution outlines the structure, function, powers, and purpose of the national government. Powers that are not specifically assigned to the national government belong to the states. Each state’s constitution outlines how its state government powers will work. State constitutions explain the structure, function, and purpose of the state government.

The U.S. Constitution

• Shorter and less detailed

• There has only ever been one national Constitution

• The preamble explains the vision and mission of the national government

• The 7 articles outline the functions and structure of the national government

• The Bill of Rights is included as the first 10 amendments of the Constitution

• Amendments can be made, but the process is longer than at the state level

State Constitutions

The state can grant rights beyond those outlined by the U.S. Constitution. State constitutions include a list of rights that all citizens have. This is called a bill of rights or a declaration of rights. State constitutions also contain a plan for the division of the state government into three branches, similar to the national government's divisions.

Multiple Select

What are the three branches of government?

• Legislative

• Executive

• Judicial

• Congress

Most state constitutions contain certain things:

• Preamble explaining the purpose of the constitution

• List of powers of the state government

• Structure of the three branches of government

• Bill of rights or declaration of rights to help protect everyone's rights in the state

• Checks and balances to prevent any branch from being more powerful than the other

• Process for reviewing and amending the constitution 

  
  

Multiple Choice

The ________________ explains the purpose of the constitution.

• Preamble

• conclusion

• Bill of Rights

• checks and balances

Multiple Choice

__________________ prevent any branch from being more powerful than the other.

• Preamble

• Checks and balances

• Bill of RIghts

State Consitutions

State constitutions share similar features, but they are not the same. Each state's constitution is written to address the unique issues that are important to that state's citizens.

Multiple Choice

All state constitutions are the same.

• True

• False

FUN FACT

For example, the Constitution of Alabama includes protection for the loss of peanut crops from bad weather or disease. Such a rule would not be useful in a state like Alaska, where peanuts are not grown. 

State Flags

Every state also has its own state flag. This is Pennsylvania's state flag. It has symbols on it that represent the state. The eagle on top of the shield represents the state's loyalty to the United States. What does your state's flag look like?

State constitutions have a lot in common. But no two state constitutions are the same. The Massachusetts state constitution is the oldest. Alabama has the longest state constitution, and Vermont has the shortest.

The Three Branches of Government

4-4.2 Explain the structure and function of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.

Articles of Confederation

Strengths and Weaknesses

Constitutional Convention

The Articles of Confederation

must be replaced!!!!

Multiple Choice

Which government has the power to carry out the action seen in the picture? (print money)

• Federal

• State

• Federal and State

Chapter 6 Lesson 2

Review

The Great Compromise

and The Constitutional Convention

A of C & Constitution

by Ashley Stevens

George Washington

• Provided military leadership

• Commander in-chief of the Continental Army

• During this time he was a solider and a farmer....not a president

• from Virginia

Thomas Jefferson

• Provided political leadership by expressing the reasons for independence

• Wrote the Declaration of Independece

• He was American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, and philosopher during this time ...not the president

• from Virginia

Multiple Choice

Who provided military leadership?

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

Multiple Choice

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

Making of the Constitution

Review and Study Guide

Multiple Choice

Who did the Americans fight against during the Revolutionary War?

• the Native Americans

• the British

• Spain

Multiple Choice

Who is the Father of the Constitution?

• James Madison

• George Washington

• Benjamin Franklin

Multiple Choice

The Constitution was written during a meeting held in the city of ______.

• Boston

• Philadelphia

• New York

• Rhode Island

Multiple Choice

How many states had to approve the U.S. Constitution?

• 13

• 9

• 50

• 10

Multiple Choice

When people give up some of what they want so that they can all agree, this is called ____________.

• a convention

• a promise

• a compromise

Multiple Choice

What is the Constitution?

• a set of rules for our American Government

• a list of people who run our American Government

• a meeting about forming our American Government

• a plan for new buildings in our American Government

Multiple Choice

James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton taught people about the Constitution ______.

• on TV

• in speeches

• on Facebook

• in newspaper articles

Multiple Choice

How is a president chosen?

• by the people's vote

• by a law made by congress

• by being born to a king

Multiple Choice

Who was the United States first president?

• James Madison

• John Jay

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

Multiple Select

What are the differences between a king and a president? (Choose 3 answers below that are correct.)

• A king is a king for 4 years and a president is elected for his whole life.

• A king is born into their role and a president is not.

• A king can make laws, but a president cannot.

• A king is a king for his whole life, but a president is elected every 4 years.

• A king cannot make laws, but a president can make laws.

Multiple Choice

Under the Constitution, who makes laws?

• the president

• Congress

• a king

• your parents

Multiple Choice

According to the Constitution, our government gets its power from ______

• The president

• Congress

• a king

• the people

Multiple Choice

What are the first words of the U.S. Constitution?

• Give me liberty or give me death

• I pledge allegiance for which it stands

• We the people

Multiple Choice

James Madison wrote the ____________

• king

• bill of rights

• President

Multiple Choice

What were the delegates at the Constitutional Convention called?

• Peacemakers

• Lawmakers

• Founding Fathers

​Week #1

​Complete Questions 1-5 for Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday (FINAL)

​

​Week #2

​Complete Questions 6-10 for Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday (FINAL)

​

Multiple Choice

Which colony did not send representatives to the Constitutional Convention?

• Jamestown

• New York

• Rhode Island

• New Jersey

Multiple Choice

Who was one of New Jersey's Representatives?

• Mrs. Eisinger

• Edmund Randolph

• Mr. Brady

• William Paterson

Multiple Choice

What was the Virginia Plan?

• The number of a state's representatives would be the same for every state.

• The number of a state's representatives would depend on the population of that state.

• The number of a state's representatives would depend on the wealth of that state.

• The number of the state's representatives would depend on the number of pizzerias in that state.

Multiple Choice

Who presented the New Jersey Plan?

• William Livingston

• William Paterson

• William Livingston Seagull

• William Shakespeare

Poll

Which plan do you agree with the most?

• Virginia Plan

• New Jersey Plan

• Connecticut Plan/ The Great Compromise

Multiple Choice

What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?

• A. to decide whether a king should lead the government

• B. to form a stronger government by revising the Articles of Confederation

Multiple Choice

Our Constitution was...

• A written plan for our government

• A famous book

• The most popular play in 1787

Multiple Choice

What is the name of this document?

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

• The Constitution

Multiple Choice

Congress makes the laws, they are a part of the _______________ branch of the government.

• Executive

• Legislative

• Judicial

Open Ended

List the three branches of government under the constitution...........

Multiple Choice

The ______________ branch of government makes laws.

• executive

• judicial

• legislative

Multiple Choice

Why did states with large populations favor the Virginia Plan?

• A. It had the legislature choose judges.

• B. It had the legislature choose the executive.

• C. It based representation on population.

• D. It based representation on land area.

Multiple Choice

The Constitution makes sure that the three branches of government balance each other out, so none of them are too powerful (Checks and Balances).

• FALSE

• TRUE

Multiple Choice

Which government has the power to carry out the action seen in the picture? (print money)

• Federal

• State

• Federal and State

Multiple Choice

The _____________government manages elections.

• federal

• state

• federal and state

Multiple Choice

What were the Articles of Confederation?

• The plan of government after The Constitution of the United States of America was written.

• The plan of government before The Constitution of the United States of America was written.

• The plan of government for any state that wanted to leave North Caldwell.

• The plan of government before Columbus.

Multiple Choice

What was the main problem with the Articles of Confederation?

• The national government was weak.

• State governments were weak.

• It was written in cursive.

Multiple Choice

Which two were delegates from New Jersey?

• George Washington and Ben Franklin

• Alexander Hamilton and Scooby Doo

• William Livingston and William Paterson

• Mrs. Williams and John Hancock

Multiple Choice

Where did the Constitutional Convention meet?

• East New Jersey

• Atlantis

• New York

• Philadelphia

Multiple Choice

What is a constitution?

• A written plan of government.

• A side order at Wendy's.

• Mr. Checchetto's breakfast.

• A secret plan of battle.

Multiple Choice

What was NOT a boundary of the United States right after the Revolutionary War?

• the Mississippi River

• the Atlantic Ocean

• Bikini Bottom

• the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River

The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution for the United States of America

• Ratified by the 13 colonies in 1781

The Articles of Confederation gave states full and complete power to rule themselves causing a weak central government.

• Americans feared that if they gave too much power to the federal government they would be left with similar issues and concerns they had while under King George III rule.

• Americans thought that too much government power would infringe on their rights, and liberties they fought to get.

Multiple Choice

The Articles of Confederation formed a _______ Government?

• Strong

• Weak

• Powerful

Multiple Choice

Americans feared that if they gave the government too much _____ they would be left with similar issues they had while under King George III rule

• Power

• Money

• Freedom

Multiple Choice

Under the Articles of Confederation who had the most power?

• People

• National Government

• King

• States

Weaknesses under the Article of Confederation

• Congress could not collect taxes to pay back dept

• No common currency

• Weak national government

• No national court system

• Unable to enforce laws

• 9 out of 13 states had to vote in order to approve a law. Each state was only allowed one vote

• All states (13) had to vote in order to amend the Articles of Confederation.

Multiple Choice

Congress could collect tax?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Congress could enforce laws and force the states to obey those laws.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

There was no common currency/money for all 13 states.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

How many votes did congress need to approve a new law?

• 13

• 5

• 9

• 7

Multiple Choice

How many votes did each state get to contribute?

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

How many votes did congress need in order to make amendments to the Articles of Confederation?

• 9

• 7

• 50

• 13

Strengths under the Articles of Confederation

• Establish and maintain military

• Make Treaties

• Settle disputes among states

Multiple Choice

Congress was able to establish a national army to defeat the British in the American Revolution.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Congress granted all power to the national government and did not give states and free citizens rights.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Congress was able to negotiate the end of the American Revolution by signing the Treaty of Paris.

• True

• False

The Executive Branch

• The main job is to carry out the laws

• Made up of the president, vice-president, and the president's Cabinet

• The president is elected by the citizens of the United States

• Leader of the government and all branches of the military

• Chooses federal judges

• Can sign or veto a bill

Multiple Choice

The head of the Executive Branch is

• Vice President

• Senate

• The President

• Speaker of the House

Multiple Choice

A group of departments, the heads of which were originally meant to be the president's closest advisors, is called...

• The Cabinet

• House of Representatives

• Senate

• Congress

Multiple Choice

All of the following are powers of the executive branch EXCEPT.....

• Can sign or veto bills

• Chooses federal judges

• Impeach members of other branches

• Leader of the government and all branches of the military

Judicial Branch

• Evaluates laws (Supreme Court, Federal and other courts)

• The Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate

• Can overturn unconstitutional laws

Multiple Choice

Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated and confirmed by the president,

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Judicial Branch.....

• Make Laws

• Veto Laws

• Ignores Laws

• Evaluates laws

Legislative Branch

• Confirms or rejects presidential nominations for heads of federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court

• Has the authority to declare war

• The branch includes Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives)

• Senate—There are two elected Senators per state, totaling 100 Senators

Legislative Branch cont.

• A Senate term is six years, and there is no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.

• House of Representatives—There are 435 elected Representatives

• A Representative serves a two-year term, and there is no limit to the number of terms an individual can serve.

• Makes laws (Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate)

Multiple Choice

What is another name for the legislative branch of the United States government?

• President

• Cabinet

• Supreme Court

• Congress

Multiple Choice

What are the two parts that make up the legislative branch?

• House of Representatives and the Senate

• House of Commons and the Supreme Court

• The Congress and the Cabinet

• The Supreme Court and the Senate

Multiple Choice

How many senators does each state have?

• Depends on the population of the state

• Each state gets 5 senators

• Each state gets 2 senators

• As many as they want

Multiple Choice

What is the total number of United States Senators and House of Representatives?

• 200 each

• 435 each

• 434 Senators and 100 Representatives

• 100 Senators and 435 Representatives

Multiple Choice

The primary job of the legislative is to write up and vote on laws

• True

• False

Checks and Balances

• The point of checks and balances was to make sure no one branch would be able to control too much power, and it created a separation of powers

• The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto.

Checks and Balances cont.

• The legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional.

• The President in the executive branch can veto a law, but the legislative branch can override that veto with enough votes.

• The legislative branch has the power to approve Presidential nominations, control the budget, and can impeach the President, and remove him or her from office

• The judicial branch interprets laws, but the President nominates Supreme Court justices, the court of appeals judges, and district court judges who make the evaluations.

Multiple Choice

How can the executive branch check the power of the legislative branch?

• The president can fire a member of Congress.

• The president can shut down Congress.

• The president can refuse to pay Congress.

• The president can veto a bill from becoming a law.

Multiple Choice

How can the judicial branch check the power of the legislative branch?

• By impeaching the president

• By vetoing laws

• By declaring a law unconstitutional

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

How is the executive branch checked by the other branches of government?

• The Congress can impeach the president from office.

• The Supreme Court can declare executive orders unconstitutional.

• The Congress can refuse to approve judges and other officials.

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

How can the legislative branch check the judicial branch?

• They can refuse to pay judges on the Supreme Court.

• They can impeach judges from office.

• They can veto the rulings of the Supreme Court.

• They can create laws to get around the constitution.

Open Ended

Why do we need a government?

Today's Learning Targets:

• I will be able to identify the inability to tax as a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

• I will be able to identify the weak central government as a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

• I will be able to identify the impact of Shays’ Rebellion and how it underscored the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Today's Learning Targets:

• I will be able to identify the inability to tax as a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Multiple Choice

The Articles of Confederation formed a _________ government.

• Strong

• Weak

Multiple Choice

The colonists wanted to _________ government with a .

• Avoid

• Create

Multiple Choice

This government was ___________ for running the country.

• Effective

• Ineffective

Today's Learning Targets:

• I will be able to identify the weak central government as a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Multiple Choice

Congress could establish an army without asking the states.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Congress could not collect taxes.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Congress could force states to obey its laws.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The president was the head of the National Government.

• True

• False

Today's Learning Targets:

• I will be able to identify the inability to tax as a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

• I will be able to identify the weak central government as a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

• I will be able to identify the impact of Shays’ Rebellion and how it underscored the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Multiple Choice

One result of the Shay rebellion was the realization that the federal government needed more control over the states

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

What year did Shay's Rebellion start?

• 1785

• 1786

Multiple Choice

Who led the Rebellion?

• Daniel Shays

• Shay Peterson

• Shay Mitchell

• Roger Sherman

Today we learned to:

• Identify the inability to tax as a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

• Identify the weak central government as a weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

• Identify the impact of Shays’ Rebellion and how it underscored the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Monday, we will review Chapter 6.