Exploring the Critical Period: Articles of Confederation and Shays' Rebellion

The video covers the Critical Period from the end of the American Revolutionary War to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1789. It discusses the Articles of Confederation, highlighting their weaknesses and the resulting Shays' Rebellion, which underscored the need for a stronger national government. The video also examines the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which established a process for admitting new states and prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory.

What period does the Critical Period refer to?

• The time from the end of the Civil War to the start of World War I

• The time from the ratification of the U.S. Constitution to the Civil War

• The time from the start of the American Revolutionary War to the signing of the Declaration of Independence

• The time from the end of the American Revolutionary War to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution

When were the Articles of Confederation officially ratified?

• July 4, 1776

• September 17, 1787

• March 1, 1781

• November 1777

Which of the following was NOT a power granted to Congress under the Articles of Confederation?

• Regulating commerce

• Coining money

• Negotiating treaties with foreign countries

• Maintaining an army

What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• It allowed for a strong central government

• States had no representation

• There was no executive or judicial branch

• Congress had too much power

What event highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and led to calls for a stronger national government?

• The Boston Tea Party

• The signing of the Declaration of Independence

• Shays' Rebellion

• The War of 1812

Who led the protests known as Shays' Rebellion?

• Daniel Shays

• James Bowdoin

• George Washington

• Thomas Jefferson

What was the main cause of Shays' Rebellion?

• High taxes and economic hardship faced by Massachusetts farmers

• Disputes over land with Native American tribes

• Opposition to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution

• A desire to return to British rule

What was the significance of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

• It ended the Revolutionary War

• It granted independence to the Northwest Territory

• It allowed for the immediate admission of new states

• It established the first federal law to address slavery

Which area was governed by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

• The Southern states

• The Great Lakes region and areas north and west of the Ohio River

• The Western territories acquired from France

• The original 13 colonies

What was one of the key provisions of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

• It required all settlers to be of British descent

• It established a monarchy in the Northwest Territory

• It prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory

• It allowed slavery in the Northwest Territory