Exploring the Articles of Confederation and Shays' Rebellion

The video discusses the Articles of Confederation, highlighting its lack of a central government and its focus on mutual defense and free trade. It contrasts the Articles with the US Constitution, noting the Articles' emphasis on state sovereignty. The video also covers the economic challenges post-Revolutionary War, leading to Shays' Rebellion, which exposed the Articles' weaknesses. This rebellion catalyzed the Constitutional Convention, resulting in the drafting of the US Constitution, which established a stronger federal government.

What was the primary purpose of drafting the Articles of Confederation?

• To form a new economic system

• To declare independence from Britain

• To create a mutual defense union

• To establish a strong central government

How did the tone of the Articles of Confederation differ from the US Constitution?

• It was more formal and business-like

• It was more casual and friendly

• It was more aggressive and confrontational

• It was written in a poetic style

What did each state retain under the Articles of Confederation?

• The ability to print their own currency

• Sovereignty, freedom, and independence

• The right to form their own military

• Complete independence from each other

What was a significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• The ability to regulate interstate commerce

• The inability to declare war

• The lack of a central government

• The power to tax citizens directly

Why did the United States face economic challenges post-Revolutionary War?

• High tariffs on imports

• Overproduction of goods

• Debt to foreign countries and lack of hard currency

• Lack of trade agreements

Who was Daniel Shays?

• A wealthy merchant

• A British spy

• A poor farmer and war veteran

• A delegate at the Constitutional Convention

What was the main cause of Shays' Rebellion?

• Opposition to the new Constitution

• Demand for hard currency to pay debts

• Disputes over land ownership

• High taxes on imported goods

How did Shays' Rebellion highlight the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

• It showed the need for a stronger military

• It demonstrated the lack of a central government

• It revealed the inefficiency of state governments

• It exposed the flaws in the judicial system

What was one of the main outcomes of Shays' Rebellion?

• The drafting of the US Constitution

• The creation of a national bank

• The end of the Revolutionary War

• The formation of a new state

What was the purpose of the Constitutional Convention in 1787?

• To revise the Articles of Confederation

• To establish trade agreements

• To elect a new president

• To declare war on Britain