1.7 Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

What did the Articles of Confederation establish?

• A loose alliance of states with a weak central government

• A unified military force

• A national court system

• A strong central government

Why was the U.S. Constitution written?

• To establish a monarchy

• To strengthen the Articles of Confederation

• To address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• To dissolve the union of states

What was a key weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation?

• Strong central leadership

• Lack of power to tax

• Too much power to tax

• Too many national courts

What did the lack of power to regulate trade under the Articles of Confederation lead to?

• A unified trade policy

• Economic conflicts and disunity among states

• Economic prosperity

• Increased foreign trade

What was absent under the Articles of Confederation that the U.S. Constitution provided for?

• Freedom of speech

• A national court system

• The right to vote

• State governments

Why was it difficult to make changes to the Articles of Confederation?

• Changes were not allowed

• All changes required a simple majority

• Only the president could propose changes

• Any amendment required unanimous consent from all 13 states

What did the U.S. Constitution establish that the Articles did not?

• A monarchy

• The right to bear arms

• State militias

• A national military

What was one effect of the financial instability under the Articles of Confederation?

• The government struggled to pay off war debts

• Decreased government spending

• Increased taxation on the wealthy

• Rapid economic growth

What led to the writing of the U.S. Constitution?

• The success of the Articles of Confederation

• A desire for less government power

• The establishment of a national religion

• The need for a stronger central government

What was the result of the absence of a national court system under the Articles?

• Faster resolution of disputes

• Disputes between states often went unresolved

• More power to state courts

• A decrease in legal cases