Confederation Achievements and Articles Quiz

Organization and Achievements of the Confederation

• John Dickinson drafted the Articles of Confederation in 1777, after the victory at Saratoga
• The government consisted of one governing body, a congress
• Members were elected yearly
• Americans feared a strong central government due to their experience with the British monarchy
• Americans prioritized strong state governments
• Many Americans were more loyal to their states than to the United States

Adoption of the Articles of Confederation

• Each state needed to ratify the Articles before they became law
• The ratification process took almost four years
• Some states claimed land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River
• Smaller states, like Maryland, refused to ratify unless Congress controlled western lands
• Congress gained control of western lands, and states had equal vote in Congress
• States with large western claims compromised
• Maryland ratified the Articles in January 1781, when Virginia gave up its northern claims
• The Confederation Congress adopted the plan on March 1, 1781

Political Power Under the Articles

• Congress had limited powers under the Confederation
• Congress did not have the power to tax
• Congress could raise and maintain an army, wage war, make treaties
• Manage Indian affairs, establish postal system, borrow and coin money
• States also had some of these powers

Test your knowledge on the organization and achievements of the Confederation, particularly focusing on the Articles of Confederation drafted by John Dickinson. This quiz explores the challenges faced during the ratification process and the balance of power between state and federal governments in the early United States.