Confederation to Constitution

In this section you will learn how the weakness of the Articles of Confederation led to the writing of the U. S. Constitution.

At the end of the American War for Independence, all 13 colonies experimented with different forms of government. Some abolished slavery, and others created separate branches, but all of them had a republican form of government.

In a republic, the people choose representatives to govern them.

The Continental Congress created a plan called the Articles of Confederation which gave most of the powers to the individual states. By 1781 all 13 colonies accepted the Articles.

The Articles of Confederation had a weak central government called the Confederation Congress that was incapable of raising taxes or enforcing national laws.

FOR UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the American War for Independence, all 13 colonies had a ______form of government. 1) socialistic 2) republican 3) anti-slavery 4) parliamentary

In a ______, the people choose representatives to govern them. 1) monarchy 2) direct democracy 3) theocracy 4) republic

The Continental Congress created a plan called the ______which gave most of the powers to the individual states. 1) Marshal Plan 2) Articles of Confederation 3) Declaration of Independence 4) Olive Branch Proposal

The articles of Confederation was characterized by a: 1) three branched governmental system. 2) powerful federalism. 3) weak central government. 4) national board of tax leviers.

The ______was incapable of raising taxes or enforcing national laws. 1) Confederation Congress 2) state government 3) U.S. Congress 4) British Parliament

The Land Ordinance of 1785 divided the lands west of the Appalachians into six square mile townships. These lands came to be known as the Northwest Territories.

The Northwest Ordinance (1787) described how the Northwest Territories would be governed. When a territory reached a population of 60,000, it could apply to become a new state.

The decision to ban slavery in the Northwest Territories contributed to a growing division between North and South.

Because the Confederation Congress could not raise taxes, it was incapable of solving the crises of the war debt that faced the nation. So individual states taxed their residents.

In Massachusetts, the taxes were so high that it resulted in an armed rebellion of farmers that came to be known as Shays’ Rebellion.

Engraving depicting Daniel Shea (left) and Job Shattuck

FOR UNDERSTANDING

The ______divided the lands west of the Appalachians into six square mile townships. 1) Proclamation of ) Northwest Ordinance 3) British King 4) Land Ordinance of 1785

After 1787, the lands west of the Appalachians came to be known as ______. 1) the Louisiana Purchase 2) the Northwest Territories 3) Indian Territory 4) the Great Plains

The ______described how the Northwest Territories would be governed. 1) Declaration of Independence 2) Second Continental Congress 3) Northwest Ordinance 4) Proclamation of 1763

The decision to ______contributed to a growing division between North and South. 1) settle the lands west of the Appalachians 2) ban slavery in the Northwest Territories 3) appoint General George Washington as the first U.S. president 4) divide the lands of the Northwest Territories into six square mile townships

Because the Confederation Congress______, it was incapable of solving the crises of the war debt that faced the nation. 1) was made up of Loyalists and Patriots 2) spent all of its time taxing the colonists 3) failed to resolve the differences between North and South 4) could not raise taxes

In Massachusetts, the taxes were so high that it resulted in an armed rebellion of farmers that came to be known as______. 1) Bacon’s Rebellion 2) the American Revolution 3) the Battle of Farmer’s Field 4) Shays’ Rebellion