2.2

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Questions and Answers

What was a major concern when creating a new government after the American Revolution?

Ensuring a strong central government to control all aspects of daily life.

Preventing the new government from overpowering the individual liberties of the people. (correct)

Establishing a monarchy to ensure stable leadership.

Creating a system without any form of checks and balances.

What was a key reason for the Second Continental Congress to form a national government?

To facilitate better communication between individual colonies.

To allow states to act independently without a central authority.

To gain recognition and aid from foreign nations. (correct)

To create a monarchy that could enforce laws across the colonies.

What was required for the Articles of Confederation to become the law of the land?

Approval by a two-thirds majority in Congress.

Signatures from the Articles' authors.

Ratification by all thirteen states. (correct)

An agreement from Great Britain.

Which state held out the longest in ratifying the Articles of Confederation?

Maryland Signup and view all the answers

What governance structure was established by the Articles of Confederation?

A confederation of independent states. Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary reason the framers created the Articles of Confederation?

To avoid replacing one oppressive government with another. Signup and view all the answers

What type of government was formed by each of the thirteen states after the Declaration of Independence?

Republican form of government with popular sovereignty. Signup and view all the answers

Which power was NOT granted to the central government under the Articles of Confederation?

Establishing a national bank. Signup and view all the answers

What was required for the Articles of Confederation to be amended?

Unanimous approval of all thirteen states. Signup and view all the answers

What element was explicitly designed to prevent the development of elite professional politicians in the Confederation Congress?

Delegates could serve for only three consecutive years. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following powers was NOT granted to the central government under the Articles of Confederation?

Enacting taxes Signup and view all the answers

How many votes were required for the Confederation Congress to take action?

Nine Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main reasons the Articles of Confederation favored the states over the central government?

Each state had equal representation regardless of size. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Articles of Confederation's limited powers for the central government?

To prevent the rise of tyranny and promote individual rights. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant aim of the new government established after the American Revolution?

To unify the states for common purposes such as defense Signup and view all the answers

What was one limitation of the Articles of Confederation that was widely recognized?

It lacked sufficient authority to regulate interstate commerce Signup and view all the answers

What form of government were the American people aiming for after their independence?

A republic where representatives govern according to laws Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the nature of the union created by the Articles of Confederation?

A loose association of states with limited central authority Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation were drafted after the American Revolution
The goal was to create a unified nation while ensuring individual liberties
Individual colonies, now states, distrusted each other
A central government was needed for defense and diplomacy
The final draft was accepted in November 1777
Ratification by all thirteen states was necessary for implementation
Maryland's approval was delayed due to land claims disputes over western territories
Virginia relinquished its western land claims in early 1781, enabling the Articles to be ratified
The new government was designed to be a republic—power to the people
Americans feared a powerful central government
A confederation was created, an alliance of sovereign states
This arrangement favored the states, limiting central power
Each state had its own constitution, governor, and legislature
States retained significant autonomy
The central government had limited authority in areas such as national defense

Putting a New Government in Place

The newly formed government faced challenges in securing adequate funding
Each state government had its own currency & banks
The Continental currency (issued by the central government) was nearly worthless—its value plummeted due to lack of trust and over-issuance
States' reluctance to provide funds created economic woes for the new nation
The national government struggled to pay its debts incurred during the Revolutionary War, leading to financial instability

Weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation

Lack of power to impose taxes—relied on requisitions from states, which were often not met
Reliance on states to fund the national government, leading to underfunding
Inability to regulate trade (interstate and foreign)—states imposed tariffs on each other's goods, which hindered trade
Inability to raise a national army or navy—relied on state militias for defense, leading to vulnerabilities
Each state had one vote in Congress regardless of size, hindering effective decision-making
Unanimous consent required to amend the Articles, making changes virtually impossible

Shays' Rebellion

Farmers in Western Massachusetts faced debt and foreclosures
Unable to repay their debts due to problems with the national government (lack of currency reform, national tax power)
They protested in 1786-1787 (Shay's Rebellion), highlighting the weakness of the national government's ability to maintain order
The rebellion highlighted the inability of the national government to effectively respond to crises, leading to concerns about its stability and authority

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Explore the Articles of Confederation, drafted after the American Revolution to unify the states while safeguarding individual liberties. Learn about the challenges and structures of the newly formed government, including the importance of state approval and fears of central power. Test your knowledge on this critical period in American history.

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