2.3 - The Articles of Confederation

After the Revolutionary War, the thirteen states saw themselves as

• united as a single strong nation.

• independent rather than united.

• a major force on the world stage.

• a single culture and political body.

Shays's Rebellion and the Massachusetts government's reaction to it caused many people to fear

• hunger.

• anarchy.

• oppression.

• taxes.

What was the primary conflict among the group writing the Articles of Confederation?

• whether the national government would provide free education

• whether the national government would be strong or weak

• whether the government would possess a large army

• whether the government would collect taxes or not

How was the new confederation different from our government today?

• It had no president or court system.

• It had no standing army.

• It offered voting rights to all citizens.

• It offered small loans to farmers.

After the Revolutionary War, the national government owed $40 million to

• foreign countries and American soldiers who had yet to be fully paid.

• individual state legislatures and their leaders.

• Native American tribes from the west.

• American taxpayers.

An example of the challenges faced by Americans after the Revolutionary War was how

• it was impossible to sell goods abroad.

• the national transportation system had been destroyed.

• British troops were still stationed in cities.

• each state had its own currency.

Shays's Rebellion made it clear that

• creditors would forgive the debts of farmers.

• democracy had taken root in the new nation.

• the national government was too weak.

• states could handle small uprisings.

The group revising the Articles of Confederation eventually decided to

• give more power to the states.

• ask the British Parliament for advice about how to organize the government.

• create a new branch of government to deal with debts.

• write a new constitution.

What did the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 achieve?

• They provided a way to settle western lands.

• They sold land to foreign countries for a huge profit.

• They turned forests into profitable farmland.

• They laid the groundwork for the Industrial Revolution.

Why was the national debt a serious problem for the new nation?

• The amount of money was very small.

• Individual states did not feel responsible for a "national" debt.

• National leaders were not interested in solving the problem.

• The nation had money but no means to distribute it.