Forming a New Government

Why did the Articles of Confederation have a weak central government?

• they were following the plan set up by the Dec. of Independence

• The absence of national problems made a strong government unnecessary

• Colonial experiences under Great Britain had created a fear of unlimited government

• Revenues were not adequate to support a strong central government.

What was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• the large states received more votes in Congress than the small states did

• the national government could not enforce its laws or collect debt

• too much power was given to the president

• state governments could not coin money

What were the domestic problems that occurred under the Articles of Confederation? Choose all that apply.

• No chief executive or national army to maintain national security

• There was no federal court system to settle disputes & unify states

• Could not make states pay for war debts from the Revolution

• Congress could not regulate international relations to ensure profit

• Congress had too much power with a majority rules voting system

Shays' Rebellion (1786) became a concern for many national leaders because it

• indicated there would be future conflicts over the spread of slavery

• exposed fundamental weakness in government under the Articles of Confederation

• pointed to the need for federal government regulation of interstate commerce

• showed that frontier settlements were vulnerable to raids by American Indians

To address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, delegates at the Constitutional Convention agreed to: (Choose all that apply)

• compromise on the inclusion of enslaved people for population count in The House of Representatives

• develop a bicameral legislature to solve disagreements between large and small states

• establish 3 branches to ensure better a more checked and balanced system

• establish a Senate as part of Congress with equal representation from each state

To address the concerns of many Antifederalists during the debate over ratification of the Constitution, the Federalists agreed that

• political parties would be formed

• states would retain control of interstate commerce

• slavery would be eliminated by an amendment

• a bill of rights be added

Which compromise created a bicameral legislative branch? One house based on state population the other with equal state representation.

• Commerce Compromise

• Ratification Compromise

• The Great Compromise

• 3/5 Compromise

The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 are considered achievements under the Articles of Confederation because they

• established processes for settling and governing the western territories

• settled boundary disputes with Great Britain and Spain

• provided the basic methods of collecting taxes and coining money

• created a system of state and federal courts

The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 are considered achievements under the Articles of Confederation because they

• established processes for gaining and governing the newly attained territories

• settled boundary disputes with Great Britain and Spain

• provided the basic methods of collecting taxes and coining money

• created a system of state and federal courts within newly acquired land

What were the advantages of the Articles of Confederation (Choose all that apply)

• unified 13 states under a common legislature

• developed rights for many citizens to participate in democratic decisions

• ensured citizens traveling between states had the same rights

• had the power to declare war, appoint leaders and make treaties with foreign powers