Articles of Confederation Overview

What was the main limitation of the Articles of Confederation?

What was a significant feature of the Virginia Plan?

Who is credited with proposing the Great Compromise?

What compromise counted enslaved persons as three-fifths of a person?

Which state chose not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention?

What power was denied to the federal government under the Articles of Confederation?

What was a feature of the New Jersey Plan?

Which body of government was formed under the Articles of Confederation?

What was a common criticism of the Articles of Confederation?

What was one of the foreign affairs powers granted to Congress under the Articles of Confederation?

Articles of Confederation

First US government plan (constitution)
Congress handled foreign affairs
States held most power
Failed to unify states on matters like defense and finances

Powers of Articles of Confederation

Conduct foreign relations
Raise an army and navy
Borrow money
Establish a postal system
Manage Native American affairs

Powers Denied the Federal Government

No executive branch
No power to regulate commerce
No power to tax

Constitutional Convention

12 states sent delegates to Philadelphia in 1787
Rhode Island did not attend, fearing a strong national government would force them to repay war debts
Delegates lacked a clear plan

The New Jersey Plan

Proposed by William Paterson
Three branches of government
One legislative house
Each state receives one vote, regardless of population (smaller states favored)

The Virginia Plan

Proposed by Edmond Randolph
Strong national government
Three branches of government
Two-house legislature, representation based on population (larger states favored)

The Great Compromise

Proposed by Roger Sherman
Bicameral legislature (two houses)
Lower house (House of Representatives): representation based on state population
Upper house (Senate): each state gets two representatives

The 3/5's Compromise

Southern states wanted slaves included in population counts for representation in the House of Representatives
Every five enslaved people counted as three free persons for both taxation and representation

Explore the key elements of the Articles of Confederation and the powers assigned to both the federal government and the states. This quiz covers important events leading to the Constitutional Convention, including the New Jersey and Virginia Plans. Test your knowledge on the first governing document of the United States!