Lesson on the Articles of Confederation

Multiple Choice

What was the significance of the Articles of Confederation for the newly independent American colonies?

• It established the first constitution for the United States.

• It ended the Revolutionary War.

• It created the Bill of Rights.

• It formed the Supreme Court.

Open Ended

Why was it important for the 13 colonies to create a government after gaining independence?

Multiple Choice

What were the Articles of Confederation and what were their main features?

• They established a strong central government and unified the states.

• They created a loose alliance of independent states and gave limited power to the central government.

• They abolished state governments and replaced them with federal rule.

• They created a monarchy in the United States.

Open Ended

Why do you think the states wanted a weak central government?

Open Ended

What problems might arise from the structure of the Articles of Confederation, which lacked an executive and judicial branch and gave each state one vote regardless of size?

Open Ended

How did settling western land claims help unify the country under the Articles of Confederation?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT a strength of the Northwest Ordinance?

• It allowed slavery in the Northwest Territory.

• It set up a process for creating new states.

• It organized the Northwest Territory.

• It banned slavery in the territory.

Multiple Choice

Inability to regulate interstate trade is an example of

• a weakness of the Articles of Confederation
• an advantage of federalism
• a flaw in the Constitution
• a strength of the Articles of Confederation

Multiple Choice

What was one major problem caused by the lack of a national court system under the Articles of Confederation?

• States had to resolve conflicts on their own, leading to inconsistent laws

• The federal government could easily settle disputes

• Citizens could appeal to a national court for justice

• There was a strong, unified legal code across all states

Multiple Choice

Why was it difficult to amend the Articles of Confederation as the country grew?

• It required unanimous consent of all 13 states

• Only Congress could propose changes

• The President could veto amendments

• States could not propose amendments

Multiple Select

What were some of the military challenges faced by the government under the Articles of Confederation? Select all that apply.

• No power to raise a national army

• Relied on state militias

• Struggled to respond to threats like Shays' Rebellion

• Had a strong national navy

Multiple Choice

As weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation became more apparent, what did leaders realize was needed?

• a stronger central government

• stronger state government

• weaker court system

• stronger king

Open Ended

Why do you think the delegates at the Constitutional Convention decided to create a new constitution instead of just revising the Articles of Confederation?

Multiple Select

Which of the following were key figures at the Constitutional Convention? Select all that apply.

• George Washington

• James Madison

• Lord Cornwallis

• Alexander Hamilton

Multiple Select

What were the major debates during the drafting of the U.S. Constitution?

• How much power should the central government have?

• How should states be represented in Congress?

• What powers should the president have?

• How should the judiciary be structured?

Multiple Select

Which of the following were changes made in the transition from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution?

• Creation of a stronger central government

• Establishment of three branches

• Creation of a system of checks and balances

• Direct election of the president

Multiple Choice

The Bill of Rights were added because

• to protect individual liberties and limit government power
• to establish a national bank
• to promote economic growth
• to ensure state sovereignty

Multiple Choice

What was the purpose of the Articles of Confederation created by the 13 colonies in 1777?

• To establish America's first constitution and provide a government after independence

• To declare war on Britain

• To create a monarchy in America

• To divide the colonies into separate countries

Open Ended

What were the main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?