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Questions and Answers
What was the main purpose behind calling upon delegates to create a national government?
When were the Articles of Confederation formally ratified by the states?
What type of alliance did the Articles of Confederation create?
Which event led to the realization that the central government was weak?
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What power was lacking in the central government under the Articles of Confederation?
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How did the states choose to govern their residents under the new confederation?
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What was the main concern of the Anti-Federalists during the drafting of the Constitution?
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Which group believed in the need for a strong, efficient national government to unify the new republic?
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What was a key concern among representatives from southern states during the Constitutional Convention?
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Which group's base of support was stronger in rural areas, the south, and among farmers and frontier settlers?
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What was one shared concern among all delegates during the Constitutional Convention?
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Which group wished to ensure that states work in harmony with the national government while protecting individual rights?
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Study Notes
The Constitutional/Philadelphia Convention
- 55 delegates attended the Constitutional/Philadelphia Convention in May 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ended up writing a new constitution.
- Three major themes dominated the meeting: consolidation of power, states' sovereignty and representation, and slavery.
Consolidation of Power
- Many delegates wanted to strengthen the national government, but feared creating a central government that was too powerful.
- Anti-Federalists, who were mainly from rural areas, the south, and among farmers, frontier settlers, and individualists, feared concentrated power at the national level.
States' Sovereignty and Representation
- Delegates from small states did not want their interests pushed aside by larger states like Virginia, New York, or Massachusetts.
- Anti-Federalists believed that power should be dispersed among states and the national government.
Federalists
- Federalists, who were mainly from New England and the Middle Atlantic States, among intellectuals, merchants, and scholars, saw the need for a strong, energetic, and efficient national government.
Slavery
- Delegates from southern states worried that northern states might try to outlaw slavery.
- Slavery was a major concern at the Constitutional Convention.
The Articles of Confederation
- The Second Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation to establish a national government strong enough to win independence, but not so powerful that it would deprive people of their liberties.
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
- The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that lacked power to impose taxes, pay debts, and regulate interstate commerce.
- The government also lacked the power to raise an army or navy.
- Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts exposed the central government's weaknesses.
Revision of the Articles of Confederation
- To resolve problems related to commerce, members of Congress called for a revision of the Articles of Confederation.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the Articles of Confederation which created an alliance of sovereign states with a weak central government. Learn about the background, drafting, and impact of the Articles.
