Challenges and Solutions of the Articles of Confederation

What was a significant challenge in ratifying the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the American Revolutionary War?

• The British refused to acknowledge American independence.

• Not enough states sent delegates to ratify the treaty.

• The treaty demanded too much land from the new United States.

• France and Spain opposed the terms of the treaty.

What did George Washington propose as a way to compensate his soldiers after the Revolutionary War?

• A national pension system.

• Free land in the western territories.

• Direct cash payments from the states.

• Positions in the new federal government.

Why did the issue of western territories cause significant problems for the early United States under the Articles of Confederation?

• Native American tribes refused to leave the land.

• States disagreed on who owned the land and how to manage it.

• The land was infertile and unsuitable for settlement.

• European powers were actively trying to reclaim the territories.

Which of the following was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation regarding foreign relations and internal stability?

• The central government could not declare war.

• States often ignored treaties made by Congress and fought among themselves.

• There was no national army to defend the borders.

• The Articles did not allow for trade with other countries.

What was Alexander Hamilton's main concern about the Articles of Confederation?

• It gave too much power to the President.

• It did not protect individual liberties enough.

• It was too weak to effectively govern the country.

• It favored agricultural states over industrial states.

What was a major problem with the Articles of Confederation that led to states arguing?

• States had too much power and created conflicting laws.

• The central government had too much power over the states.

• There was no system for collecting taxes.

• States refused to trade with each other.

What strategy did Alexander Hamilton use to encourage more states to attend the convention to reform the government?

• He threatened states with military action if they didn't attend.

• He promised financial rewards to states that sent delegates.

• He convinced George Washington to attend, knowing his presence would draw others.

• He wrote letters to each state governor, demanding their attendance.

How did James Madison convince George Washington to attend the Constitutional Convention?

• He publicly announced Washington's attendance before Washington agreed.

• He made Washington believe that replacing the Articles with a new Constitution was Washington's own idea.

• He offered Washington a position as the first President.

• He threatened to expose Washington's past failures if he didn't attend.

What did James Madison do to prepare for the Constitutional Convention?

• He traveled to Europe to study different forms of government.

• He wrote a detailed plan for a new government called "The Virginia Plan."

• He compiled a list of every failure of the Articles of Confederation.

• He gathered support from other states by promising them more power.

What was the main goal of "The Virginia Plan" presented at the Constitutional Convention?

• To amend the Articles of Confederation to give the central government more power.

• To create a new system of government that gave more power to individual states.

• To abolish the Articles of Confederation and replace them with a new Constitution.

• To establish a monarchy in the United States.