5-1: Experimenting with Confederation

1. Representation: By population or by state? By state; one vote per state regardless of population

2. Supreme Power: Can it be divided? Yes; The Articles of Confederation established a two-tier government. The power was divided between state governments and the national government, with each supreme in some matters

3. Western Lands: Who gets them? The United States as a whole got the lands; states with western land claims gave up these claims

1. What was the new nation’s major financial problem? Payment of the Revolutionary war

2. Why was the nation unable to solve its financial problems? It had no power to tax

3. Why didn’t congress amend the articles so it could impose a tariff? Article XIII. Every State shall abide by the determination of the united States in congress assembled, on all questions which by this confederation are submitted to them. And the Articles of this confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a congress of the united States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every State. Amendments required unanimous approval by the states, which was almost impossible to obtain

Feelings of nationalism and unity were weak 4. Why was the central government under the Articles given such limited powers? Feelings of nationalism and unity were weak The states were concerned about their own sovereignty Recent troubles with England over taxation and a strong central government Provided for no executive or judicial branch Provided for a Weak national Government Gave each state one vote Regardless of size or population Provided for no common currency Gave congress no power to tax or regulate commerce

Land Ordinance of 1785 A law that set up a plan for surveying land west of the Appalachian Mountains

Terms Republic: A government in which the people elect representatives to govern Republicanism: The idea that governments should be based on the consent of the people Confederation: A loose alliance of states

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 A law that organized the Northwest Territories