Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Why did the Articles of Confederation make the national government weak? (choose 2)

• People were afraid of a strong central government
  

• States wanted to keep most of the power
  

• The Articles gave Congress power to tax directly

• Leaders wanted to copy Britain’s government

What did farmers in Massachusetts worry about the most? (choose 3)

• Heavy property taxes
  

• Losing their farms to debt
  

• Courts taking away land
  

• Being forced to serve in the army again

What was the biggest impact of Shays’ Rebellion? (choose 2)

• It convinced many leaders the Articles were too weak
  

• It caused the Declaration of Independence to be written
  

• It led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787

• It gave farmers more power in government

What did Shays Rebellion prove about the Articles of Confederation?

Why was this first U.S. government so weak?

• King George III  was still in charge of USA
• Americans were afraid to give their new government too much power
• The American army did not win their independence from Great Britain and King George III
• The U.S. gave all the power to the National Government and none to the states.

In the cartoon “The Critical Period: 1783–1789”, why is the boat labeled “U.S.A. Articles of Confederation” shown drifting toward a waterfall?

• To show the nation’s independence was secure under the Articles
  

• To warn that the weak government could lead to national collapse
  

• To celebrate Congress’s ability to guide the states safely

• To suggest the Articles gave too much power to the president

Look at the Cartoon. What message is the cartoonist trying to say about the Articles of Confederation?

What was the outcome of Shay's Rebellion

• It showed that the federal government needed to be stronger to defend and fund itself

• It showed that the federal government needed to be weaker to keep the people happy

• It led to the U.S. Civil War

• It showed that the farmers should not have to pay taxes

Which event highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and led to the Constitutional Convention?

• The signing of the Declaration of Independence.

• Shays' Rebellion.

• The Battle of Yorktown.

• The ratification of the Bill of Rights.

The Articles of Confederation created a ________ national government.

• weak
• strong
• both strong and weak
• neither  strong nor  weak