Articles of Confederation & Constitution

The first form of government America had was called the __________________________________.

• Articles of Confederation

• Constitution

• Declaration of Independence

• Executive Orders

1. One of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was that it had no ____________________ branch, and the federal government could not levy taxes.

• executive

• judicial

• legislative

The Articles of Confederation was important because it –

• created a means for establishing the executive branch

• provided every citizen in America the right to vote

• enabled each of the 13 states to make separate treaties with foreign nations

• was the first form of government for America

The reason the Articles of Confederation only established the legislative branch was to -

• show the importance of a representative legislature to foreign nations

• keep power out of the hands of the courts

• ensure the government would not become too powerful

• give the legislature supreme rule over all the states

One negative effect of the Articles of Confederation was that-

• all citizens did not have the right to vote

• the Supreme Court held ultimate power over the government

• unalienable rights of the people were revoked

• no branch was provided to enforce the laws

The Articles of Confederation did not allow the federal government to levy taxes on citizens. This led to -

• states taxing their citizens then giving all their funds to the federal government

• the federal government seizing lands from Loyalist during the American Revolution to generate revenue

• the federal government being unable to pay off its war debts

• a protest by members of congress because of their lack of funding

One of the primary goals of the Northwest Ordinance was to

• establish a structure for adding states to the U.S.

• prevent Native Americans from legitimately owning land

• abolish old British and French forts still remaining in the area

• create a means for transporting setters to western settlements

Which of the following statements would be made by a settler that moved to the Northwest Territory?

• “I came to this land desiring to create a large plantation with all my slaves laboring to grow tobacco”

• “This land is perfect for drawing beautiful landscapes of the American countryside”

• “I wanted to come and acquire as much of this land to build lumber mills on”

• “I wanted to live in a place where freedom of religion is allowed and slavery is prohibited”

Each smaller territory within the Northwest Territory was allowed to apply to become a state once their population reached

• 50,000

• 60,000

• 70,000

• 80,000