2-3 Origins of American Government

​Origins of Government

By Lisa Hintz

Multiple Choice

As the Articles of Confederation were written, a major debate centered around whether

• there should be an army under the control of the national government.

• the government should have both an executive and a legislative branch.

• slavery should be legal

• the national government or state and local governments should be stronger.

Multiple Choice

Shays’s Rebellion forced leaders to realize that the Articles were too weak.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Citizens such as Henry Knox were concerned that the national government

• was taking on powers that belonged to the states.

• denied individuals’ rights

• was unable to provide citizens with security.

• did not have the power to coin money.

Multiple Choice

Under the Articles of Confederation, the government could borrow money and levy taxes.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could

• levy taxes, but it could not establish an executive branch.

• establish post offices, but it could not levy taxes.

• declare war, but it could not make treaties.

• force everyone to abide by the law, but it could not estab. a court system.

Multiple Choice

The members of the Second Continental Congress supported republicanism by establishing a legislature in their new gov't.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Shays’s Rebellion caused the new nation’s leaders to realize that

• the nation needed to outlaw slavery.

• the Articles did an inadequate job of protecting individual rights.

• a stronger national government was needed.

• the Articles did an inadequate job of protecting states’ rights.

Multiple Choice

Any powers not specifically stated in the Articles of Confederation

• were given to the states.

• were shared by the central government and the states.

• were given to the central government.

• could not be exercised by either the central or state governments.

Multiple Choice

A major problem with the legislature set up under the Articles was that

• it had no power to regulate affairs with Native Americans.

• regardless of its population, each state had one vote.

• it could not make treaties with other nations.

• it was bicameral rather than unicameral.

Multiple Choice

A serious problem following the Revolutionary War was that

• the states refused to give the central gov't the right to make treaties

• the national government could not regulate affairs with Native Americans.

• the national government was unable to coin money.

• many states refused to help pay off the extensive war debt.