8) Strengths and Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Question 1

Articles of Confederation (1781)

Answer 1

• Drafted 1777, Adopted 1781
• Created a league of free and independent states
• First political system of colonies

Question 2

Powers Given by AoC

Answer 2

• Each state agreed to send delegates to Congress
• Congress had power to declare war, appoint military officers, coin money, responsible for foreign affairs
• States had final authority (limited Congress)
• Congress could pass laws (but needed 9 of 13 states to approve)
• Congress could not pass laws regarding taxes
• To get money, Congress had to ask each state for it and no state could be forced to pay

Question 3

Weaknesses of AoC

Answer 3

• Lack of authority to tax
• Lack of authority to exercise authority directly over states
• Weak executive to carry out laws passed by legislature
• Could not regulate finances, interstate trade, foreign trade, enforce treaties, military power

Question 4

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Answer 4

• Structured settlement of Northwest Territory
• Created policy for the addition of new states to the nation
• Excluded slavery north of the Ohio River

Question 5

Shay’s Rebellion (1786)

Answer 5

• Rebellion sparked by economic frustrations of MA farmers who were losing their farms because they could not pay debts in hard currency
• Helped convince key leaders that AoC were took weak and US needed stronger central government