Articles Of Confederation

Question 1

What is the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 1

First American Constitution, created alliance between states during the American Revolution to help win independence.

Question 2

Under Articles, Congress had the power to do what?

Answer 2

1. Maintain army and navy
2. Declare war/negotiate peace
3. Make treaties w/ other nations
4. Borrow $
5. Establish Post Office
6. Coin (make) money
7. Manage affairs w/ Natives
   * Ordinance of 1785 & Northwest Ordinance opened orderly settlement of Northwest Territory.

Question 3

Congress could not do what?

Answer 3

1. Levy taxes on states
2. Prevent states from issuing own $
3. Elect a president
4. Amend Articles w/out consent of ALL states
5. Require states to provide $ to run govt.
6. Regulate trade
7. Enforce a law in a state that didn’t accept that law.

Question 4

What were the problems Articles created several for the new nation?

Answer 4

1. STATES HAD TOO MUCH POWER
2. Money trouble: different states had different $, national $ was worthless, no way to raise $ through taxes.
3. No way to resolve conflicts between states (no national court).
4. Foreign powers taking advantage of weak govt..

Question 5

These problems became obvious with?

Answer 5

SHAYS’ Rebellion, a revolt of Massachusetts farmers that demonstrated the limited power of the government to aid its citizens.

Question 6

Why did they discard them and start from scratch?

Answer 6

Something had to be done to strengthen govt.; they decided to revise Articles, but eventually discarded them and started from scratch.