Articles of Confederation

All of the following were weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation government EXCEPT

• It lacked the power to levy taxes.

• It lacked the power to regulate commerce.

• It lacked the power to borrow money.

• It could not compel the states to abide by the terms of international treaties it had made.

Shays' Rebellion highlighted the weaknesses inherent to the Articles of Confederation, primarily the issue of

• expansion.

• industrialization.

• slavery.

• taxation.

Suppose that Americans in 1786 had wanted to amend the national Articles to include slavery. Which situation BEST describes how this might have been achieved?

• All of the states would have to agree to the amendment.

• 9 out of 13 states would have to agree to the amendment.

• 7 out of 13 states would have to agree to the amendment.

• A simple majority of states would have to agree to the amendment.

The Articles of Confederation represented the Americans’ distrust of

• authority.

• the British.

• states rights.

• a powerful national government.

Another reason for the rebellions started by Daniel Shays in 1786 were a protest against

• a tax on whisky.

• the war against Britain.

• debts and businesses' refusal to accept paper currency.

• the calling of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

Congress called for a convention to be held in Philadelphia in 1787 in order to

• declare independence from England.

• revise the Articles of Confederation.


• establish a new Constitution for the United States.

• direct the Revolutionary War effort against England.

What is the BEST explanation for the limited role of the government in the national economy in the years following the American Revolution?

• It evolved as a reaction to the oppressive economic policies that existed during the colonial era.

• It was a compromise between the industrial North and agricultural South.

• It evolved as an effort to compete with the French as they expanded westward.

• It emerged as the best strategy to pay off our massive war debts to Great Britain.

That there are important defects in the system of the Foederal [sic] Government is acknowledged by the Acts of all those States, which have concurred in the present Meeting; That the defects, upon a closer examination, may be found greater and more numerous, than even these acts imply, is at least so far probable, from the embarrassments which characterise [sic) the present State of our national affairs, foreign and domestic, as may reasonably be supposed to merit a deliberate and candid discussion, in some mode, which will unite the Sentiments and Councils of all the States. In the choice of the mode, your Commissioners are of opinion, that a Convention of Deputies from the different States, for the special and sole purpose of entering into this investigation, and digesting a plan for supplying such defects as may be discovered to exist, will be entitled to a preference from considerations, which will occur, without being particularized [sic). -"Proceedings of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government," 1786

The quotation is from which document or documented event?

• Olive Branch petition

• Constitutional Convention

• Committees of Correspondence

• Annapolis Convention

That there are important defects in the system of the Foederal [sic] Government is acknowledged by the Acts of all those States, which have concurred in the present Meeting; That the defects, upon a closer examination, may be found greater and more numerous, than even these acts imply, is at least so far probable, from the embarrassments which characterise [sic) the present State of our national affairs, foreign and domestic, as may reasonably be supposed to merit a deliberate and candid discussion, in some mode, which will unite the Sentiments and Councils of all the States. In the choice of the mode, your Commissioners are of opinion, that a Convention of Deputies from the different States, for the special and sole purpose of entering into this investigation, and digesting a plan for supplying such defects as may be discovered to exist, will be entitled to a preference from considerations, which will occur, without being particularized [sic). -"Proceedings of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government," 1786

Of all the "important defects in the system of the Foederal Government;' which was most disturbing to the leadership of the nation in 1786?

• Threat of foreign invasion

• Economic instability

• Warfare with hostile Native American nations

• Disputes between the states over the settlement of western lands

That there are important defects in the system of the Foederal [sic] Government is acknowledged by the Acts of all those States, which have concurred in the present Meeting; That the defects, upon a closer examination, may be found greater and more numerous, than even these acts imply, is at least so far probable, from the embarrassments which characterise [sic) the present State of our national affairs, foreign and domestic, as may reasonably be supposed to merit a deliberate and candid discussion, in some mode, which will unite the Sentiments and Councils of all the States. In the choice of the mode, your Commissioners are of opinion, that a Convention of Deputies from the different States, for the special and sole purpose of entering into this investigation, and digesting a plan for supplying such defects as may be discovered to exist, will be entitled to a preference from considerations, which will occur, without being particularized [sic). -"Proceedings of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government," 1786

Which event posed the greatest threat to the stability of the new nation between 1783 and 1800?

• Newburgh Conspiracy

• Whiskey Rebellion

• Shay's Rebellion

• XYZ affair