Articles of Confederation Key Concepts

When were the Articles of Confederation ratified by all thirteen states?

• 1776

• 1777

• 1781

• 1787

What was a key goal in drafting the Articles of Confederation regarding the relationship between states and the central government?

• To create a powerful central government that could enforce laws on states.

• To establish a monarchy similar to Britain's.

• To unite the states under a loose framework while respecting their individual autonomy.

• To give individual states no power over national policies.

What was a major concern of the American colonists that influenced the design of the Articles of Confederation?

• The desire for a strong national military.

• A distrust of centralized power, fearing it could lead to tyranny.

• The need for a unified currency across all states.

• The wish to quickly expand westward.

How was representation structured in the Confederation Congress under the Articles of Confederation?

• States received votes based on their population.

• Each state, regardless of size, had one vote.

• Representation was determined by a state's economic contribution.

• Only the largest states had voting power.

Which of the following was a power not granted to the Confederation Congress?

• Declaring war.

• Negotiating treaties.

• Levying taxes.

• Operating postal systems.

What was one significant achievement of the United States government under the Articles of Confederation during the Revolutionary War?

• Establishing a strong national currency.

• Successfully negotiating the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

• Creating a powerful federal army with mandatory conscription.

• Implementing a national tax system to pay off war debts.

Which of the following was a key provision of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

• It established a standardized system for surveying and selling western lands.

• It created a national bank to manage the country's finances.

• It outlined a process for admitting new states and prohibited slavery in the territory.

• It allowed states to impose tariffs on goods from other states.

What was a major limitation of Congress's power under the Articles of Confederation?

• It could declare war but not make peace treaties.

• It had the power to tax states directly but chose not to.

• It could request troops and funds from states but had no way to force compliance.

• It was responsible for managing western expansion but had no authority over land sales.

What was a significant economic problem that arose due to the Articles of Confederation?

• The government's ability to easily pay off war debts.

• A stable financial system that prevented inflation.

• The inability of the central government to tax, leading to underfunding and unpaid debts.

• Strong international credit that made borrowing easy.

How did foreign powers like Britain and Spain challenge the United States under the Articles of Confederation?

• They offered significant financial aid to strengthen the U.S. economy.

• They respected all American territorial claims and trade routes.

• Britain retained forts in the Northwest Territory, and Spain closed the Mississippi River to American trade.

• They formed strong alliances with the U.S. to ensure mutual defense.