Unit 5: Articles of Confederation & The Constitution Review

Select all the problems/weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

• Weak central government; states had too much power

• Congress could not collect taxes

• All 13 states needed to agree on a change to the Articles

• The Central Government was too strong

What was the main problem during Shays Rebellion?

Answer explanation

Farmers believed the Massachusetts government was overtaxing them and unfairly taking away their farms when they could not pay.

How did Shays' men rebel?

Answer explanation

Shays' men used armed force to stop courts from meeting to take away their farms. They attacked a gun arsenal but were unsuccessful in their mission.

After Shays’ Rebellion, the Founding Fathers realized the central government was too ______.

What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

• Discuss and fix the Articles of Confederation

• Officially declare Independence from England

• Vote on the first President of the United States

• Create a plan to unite the colonies against France

 called for a bicameral (2 house) legislature with representation both based on population, prefered by large states

• Great Compromise

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

• 3/5 Compromise

called for a unicameral (1 house) legislature with all states having equal representation, prefered by small states

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

• Great Compromise

• Slave Trade Clause

called for a bicameral (2 house) legislature with one house being based on population and another house with equal representation

• New Jersey Plan

• Virginia Plan

• 3/5 Compromise

• Great Compromise

allowed enslaved people to be counted as 3/5 of a free white person when the population of a given state was counted for representation purposes

• 3/5 Compromise

• Great Compromise

• Slave Trade Clause

• Fugitive Slave Act

forbade Congress from voting against the international slave trade until 1808

• 3/5 Compromise

• Slave Trade Clause

• Fugitive Slave Act

• Virginia Plan