Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Strengths of the United States Constitution

Reasons for American Independence

Features of State Governments

to prevent self-government in new territories

to end slavery in the northern states

to give voting rights to all male citizens

to establish a process for settling new territories

More amendments were passed under the Articles of Confederation than the Constitution.

The Constitution made the amendment process more restrictive.

Ratification of an amendment was more difficult under the Articles of Confederation.

Large states have larger roles in the amendment process under the Constitution.

The Articles of Confederation made national defense the top priority of the government.

The Constitution granted greater power to the federal government.

The Constitution strengthened the sovereignty of the states.

The Articles of Confederation led to an economically stable nation.

Congress was limited in its power over the states.

Congress had more power than the states.

Congress established tax rates for the nation.

Congress had sole power to choose an executive.

a plan for surveying western lands.

requirements for admitting new states to the union.

a challenge to Spain's claim to the Mississsippi River.

national ownership of state-owned western lands.

The federal government could not acquire and manage new territories.

The federal government could not enter into treaties.

The federal government could not levy direct taxes.

The federal government could not admit new states into the union.

Shay's Rebellion

Boston Tea Party

Louisiana Purchase

Northwest Ordinance

the need for more oversight into the federal government's tax policies.

the inability of the government to print money and regulate the economy.

the federal government's lack of authority to address domestic problems

the lack of court system to conduct trials and determine punishments for law breakers.

The question of western lands was debated as each government developed.

An army could not be raised under either governemnt.

A unanimous vote was required in order to pass legislation.

Every state received one vote on issues.

Amendments requried the unanimous consent of the states.

Amendments required approval of three-fourths of the state legislatures.

Amendments required unanimous consent of members of Congress.

Amendments required specially elected conventions half of the states.

They required territories to preserve parts of the lands for Native Americans.

They maintained the balance between free and slave states in the nation.

They established wasys to distribute land and create new states.

They allowed the United States to sell land to citizens directly.

the question of paper money or silver coinage.

the abolition of slavery.

the threat of future wars with France.

the power of the federal government over states.

The men who wrote the Articles of Confederation believed the governemnt should have three branches.

The men who wrote the Articles of Confederation did not trust a national government and gave more power to the states.

The Articles of Confederation was able to address all the issues that arose in the new nation.

The Articles of Confederation was written to establish a temporary government.