Key Concepts of the Articles of Confederation

What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• It established a powerful executive branch that often overrode state laws.

• It required unanimous consent from all states to declare war.

• It lacked the power to directly collect taxes from the states or individuals.

• It created a bicameral legislature with unequal representation for states.

Which significant achievement is attributed to the government under the Articles of Confederation?

• Establishing a national banking system.

• Successfully negotiating a permanent peace treaty with Native American tribes.

• Creating a process for admitting new states and prohibiting slavery in new territories.

• Implementing a uniform currency system across all states.

What was a key outcome of Shays' Rebellion?

• It led to the immediate abolition of slavery in all states.

• It demonstrated the need for a stronger national government to address economic instability and unrest.

• It resulted in a significant increase in international trade for the United States.

• It solidified the power of individual state militias over federal authority.

What was the initial stated purpose of the Philadelphia Convention in 1787?

• To draft a completely new constitution for the United States.

• To elect the first President of the United States.

• To revise the existing Articles of Confederation.

• To negotiate new trade agreements with European powers.

What was a primary shared goal among the delegates at the Constitutional Convention?

• To establish a direct democracy where all citizens could vote on laws.

• To create a government that would protect against both governmental and popular tyranny.

• To ensure that the executive branch held supreme power over the legislative and judicial branches.

• To maintain a weak central government with most power residing in the states.

What was the primary outcome of the Great Compromise regarding the structure of the U.S. legislative branch?

• A single legislative house with equal representation for all states.

• A bicameral legislature with proportional representation in one house and equal representation in the other.

• A unicameral legislature with representation based on state population.

• A system where all legislative power was vested in the executive branch.

How did the 3/5ths Compromise address the issue of counting enslaved people for purposes of state representation?

• Enslaved people were not counted at all for representation.

• Every five enslaved people were counted as three free persons for representation.

• Enslaved people were counted as full persons for representation, but could not vote.

• Only free white males were counted for representation.

Which principle divides the powers of government into distinct branches to prevent tyranny?

• Federalism

• Judicial Review

• Separation of Powers

• Popular Sovereignty

What concept describes the division of governmental authority between a national government and state governments?

• Checks and Balances

• Federalism

• Republicanism

• Direct Democracy

What was a primary concern of the Anti-Federalists regarding the proposed strong national government?

• It would lead to an overly democratic system.

• It would not be strong enough to protect trade and creditors.

• It would be dominated by the wealthy and become tyrannical like an empire.

• It would abolish state governments entirely.