American Revolution Government Quiz

The system of government in which the people hold power and elect representatives to govern according to law.

A union of independent states that agree to work together in certain areas, like defense, but maintain their own sovereignty.

The first constitution of the United States, adopted in 1781, which established a weak central government and gave most power to individual states.

The fear that a powerful government will become tyrannical, similar to the monarchy the Americans overthrew.

The process of formally approving a document or agreement, such as a constitution.

A land dispute between states over territory west of the Appalachian Mountains, delaying the ratification of the Articles of Confederation.

The conflict between the desire for a strong central government capable of defending the nation and the fear of a government becoming too powerful.

The process of organizing and establishing a new government after the American Revolution.

The system of government created by the Articles of Confederation where each state had significant power and the central government was weak, primarily focused on defense and settling disputes between states.

The fear that a strong central government would become tyrannical or abuse its power, similar to the monarchy that the American colonists overthrew.

The inability of the government under the Articles of Confederation to effectively address national issues due to its limited powers and reliance on states' cooperation.

The central government's lack of power to regulate interstate commerce, leading to disputes between state governments and hindering trade.

The inability of the central government to effectively tax citizens and states, limiting its financial resources to address national needs.

The requirement for unanimous consent among all 13 states to amend the Articles of Confederation, making change difficult and slow.

The Articles of Confederation's aim to prevent the central government from becoming too powerful by severely limiting its powers and granting significant autonomy to individual states.

The Articles of Confederation's attempt to strike a balance between a strong central government and individual liberty, ultimately favoring states' rights over a powerful national government.

The Articles of Confederation lacked a national power to impose taxes, so the government had to rely on requests for funding from states, which often failed to provide enough money.

The inability of the national government to raise enough money to pay colonists who had remained loyal to Britain resulted in British refusal to evacuate land west of the Appalachians.

The Articles created a weak central government, which lacked the ability to levy taxes effectively. This financial weakness led to the depreciation of Continental dollars, the currency issued by the national government.

States could issue their own banknotes, leading to a confusing and unreliable monetary system that hindered economic growth.

The lack of a national power to impose tariffs on foreign imports resulted in American producers facing unfair competition from cheaper British goods.

States imposed tariffs on goods from other states, creating trade barriers and hindering economic cooperation between the states.

The absence of a national army and navy under the Articles of Confederation meant the nation couldn't effectively defend itself against foreign threats, like attacks by Barbary pirates.

The Articles of Confederation gave the national government limited power in areas like taxation, interstate commerce, and the military, leading to significant economic and political challenges for the young nation.

The Articles of Confederation gave the national government limited power to raise an army, relying on states to contribute soldiers. This made it difficult to defend the nation, especially when facing threats from England and Spain.

The Articles of Confederation allowed states to pass laws that hurt domestic trade or interfered with the national government's regulation of foreign trade.

The Articles of Confederation granted limited power to the national government, making it unable to impose taxes and funding national projects. This led to a lack of resources for essential functions like defense, resulting in requests for money from states often going unanswered.

The Articles of Confederation lacked a system for national courts, leaving the enforcement of national law to the states. This weakness impacted the government's ability to enact and uphold its authority.

Each state had only one vote in Congress under the Articles of Confederation, regardless of its population. This led to a system where smaller states held disproportionate power compared to more populous states.

The Articles of Confederation could only be amended with unanimous consent from all states. This made it extremely difficult to change the document even when necessary, highlighting a major flaw in the system.

Shays' Rebellion, an uprising of debt-ridden farmers in Massachusetts, exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The national government's inability to raise an army highlighted its inability to respond effectively to crises.

The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government, giving most power to individual states. This decentralized system presented numerous challenges, leading to disputes over territory, trade, and a lack of national unity.

The uprising of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786 due to debts and unfair taxes, which exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and highlighted the need for a stronger central government.

The inability of the Continental Congress to pay debts owed to soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, causing resentment and hardship amongst veterans.

The heavy tax burden imposed by Massachusetts on its citizens after the Revolution to pay its own debts, which intensified economic hardship and contributed to Shays' Rebellion.

The privately funded militia that suppressed Shays' Rebellion, demonstrating the lack of reliance on a national military force under the Articles of Confederation and highlighting the need for a stronger central government.

The call for a revision of the Articles of Confederation in response to Shays' Rebellion, which eventually led to the drafting and ratification of the U.S. Constitution by the Philadelphia Convention.

The desire for a stronger central government that could effectively raise revenue, regulate commerce, and maintain national security, as illustrated by the response to Shays' Rebellion.

The growing fear among wealthy elites of social unrest and the potential for rebellion by the lower classes, a fear exacerbated by Shays' Rebellion.