16 Questions
Why did the Articles of Confederation intentionally create a weak national government?
To prevent the new government from becoming too powerful, as a reaction to their experience with the British monarchy.
List four weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
- Inability to tax or regulate trade 2. No national currency 3. No executive branch 4. No federal court system
What needed to happen in order to amend (or change) the Articles of Confederation?
Unanimous approval from all 13 states was required to amend the Articles of Confederation.
What group of people revolted during Shays’ Rebellion?
Debt-ridden farmers and veterans in Massachusetts.
What was the purpose of Shays’ Rebellion?
To protest against oppressive economic policies and foreclosure actions by the state government.
What did Shays’ Rebellion prove?
It demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation in dealing with domestic uprisings and highlighted the need for a stronger national government.
What was the purpose of creating a weak national government under the Articles of Confederation?
To prevent the abuse of power by a central authority
Who were some of the delegates that attended the Constitutional Convention?
George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
What group of people were not allowed to attend the Constitutional Convention?
Women
Did large states prefer equal or proportional representation at the Constitutional Convention? Why?
Proportional representation, to have more influence in decision-making
Define the Great Compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention.
A plan for the structure and representation in Congress
Why did the Articles of Confederation intentionally create a weak national government?
To prevent the abuse of power by a central authority
What was the purpose of Shays’ Rebellion?
To address economic hardships and foreclosure policies
Why were some groups of people not allowed to attend the Constitutional Convention?
To maintain secrecy and prevent external influence on the proceedings
What did George Washington think about Shays’ Rebellion?
He viewed it as a threat to the stability of the country
What is the difference between the northern and southern economy that led to disagreements about tariffs?
The North favored protective tariffs to support industries, while the South opposed them due to reliance on agriculture and trade
Study Notes
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
- The Articles of Confederation intentionally created a weak national government to prevent tyranny and protect states' rights.
- Four weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation:
- No power to levy taxes
- No power to regulate commerce
- No executive or judicial branch
- Amendments required unanimous consent from all states
Shays' Rebellion
- Shays' Rebellion was a revolt by debt-ridden farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787.
- The purpose of Shays' Rebellion was to protest against the state government's economic policies and lack of support for farmers.
- Shays' Rebellion proved that the government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak to maintain law and order.
- George Washington thought Shays' Rebellion was a symptom of the government's weakness and a reason to reform the Articles.
Constitutional Convention
- Some notable delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention included James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton.
- Women, slaves, and Native Americans were not allowed to attend the Constitutional Convention.
- Large states preferred proportional representation, where the number of representatives is based on population, because they had more people and wanted more power in the government.
- The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a proposal that established a bicameral legislature, with one house based on population and the other with equal representation for each state.
Economy and Tariffs
- The northern economy was based on industry and manufacturing, while the southern economy was based on agriculture, leading to disagreements over tariffs (taxes on imported goods).
- The northern economy wanted protective tariffs to protect their industries, while the southern economy wanted low or no tariffs to keep imports cheap.
Test your knowledge about the Articles of Confederation and Shays’ Rebellion. This quiz covers topics such as the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the process to amend them, the participants and purpose of Shays’ Rebellion, and the reactions of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to this event.
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