The Articles of Confederation: what the first government could and could not do
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
The Northwest Ordinance
Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a milestone document. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The Confederation Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance on July 13, 1787. It set up a temporary government for the Northwest Territory and a path to statehood: at 5,000 free adult men the territory could elect an assembly, and at 60,000 free inhabitants it could write a constitution and ask to become a state. It banned slavery and involuntary servitude in the territory, though fugitives from slavery in other states could be reclaimed. It called for the consent of Native peoples before their lands were taken. Source card "Problems under the Articles". Who made it: the Office of the Historian, US Department of State. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the history of US foreign relations. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Congress had a nearly empty treasury and could not make states follow the 1783 Treaty of Paris on old debts. British troops stayed in forts near the Great Lakes. Congress could not stop Georgia from running its own policy toward Spanish Florida. Paper money flooded the country, and prices soared. States quarreled over land, taxes and trade.
Bo compares the cards. Which comparison is supported?
- Congress could set up a path to statehood but could not make states follow the 1783 treaty
- Congress could do both because it ruled the states
- Congress could do neither, because it had no powers
- Congress could enforce the 1783 treaty but could not create a territorial government
The Articles: what the National Archives says
Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a milestone document. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles on November 15, 1777. All 13 states had to ratify, and disputes over representation, voting and western lands delayed this until Maryland ratified on March 1, 1781. Each state had one vote. Congress could make treaties and decide on peace and war, but it could not tax directly: states were to supply the money and decided how to collect it. Some major decisions needed the agreement of nine states. Congress faced a depleted treasury, and flooding paper money caused severe inflation. James Madison and George Washington feared the country was near collapse.
A student writes, "In 1786 the country was falling apart." Esme checks the card. Which revision keeps the claim accurate?
- The whole country agreed it was near collapse
- Madison and Washington feared the country was close to collapse
- Washington and Madison planned to end the Confederation by force
- The country had already collapsed by 1786
Articles of Confederation, Article 13
Who made it: the Second Continental Congress. When: Adopted November 15, 1777; in force March 1, 1781. Where: Pennsylvania, where Congress met when it adopted them. For whom: the thirteen states, which had to approve them. Why: to set up a government for the union of states. Excerpt (Articles of Confederation (1781), Article 13; as printed in 1820, p. 16): "…unless such alteration be agreed to in a congress of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislature of every state." Source card "The 1787 convention". Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a milestone document. Summary in our words, not a quotation: In May 1787, delegates from the states met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles. By mid-June they had decided to design a new government instead.
Jun asks why delegates in 1787 might have chosen a new government instead of amending the Articles.
- The Articles had no rule for amendments
- Congress had forbidden any change to the Articles after they took effect in 1781
- Britain had ordered the Articles replaced
- Amendments needed every state to confirm, which made change hard
Shays' Rebellion
Who made it: George Washington's Mount Vernon, in its article on Shays' Rebellion. When: today. Where: Mount Vernon, Virginia. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain events that worried Washington. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Farmers in Massachusetts, many of them unpaid war veterans and deep in debt, protested at courthouses from August 1786. In September 1786 they closed the state court at Springfield. Congress could do little to respond.
Kira reads that Congress could do little to respond to Shays' Rebellion. What did that show leaders?
- Congress could do little about unrest inside a state
- States could not keep order without help from Congress
- Congress ended the protests easily
- Congress had sent an army to stop the protest
The Articles: what the National Archives says
Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a milestone document. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles on November 15, 1777. All 13 states had to ratify, and disputes over representation, voting and western lands delayed this until Maryland ratified on March 1, 1781. Each state had one vote. Congress could make treaties and decide on peace and war, but it could not tax directly: states were to supply the money and decided how to collect it. Some major decisions needed the agreement of nine states. Congress faced a depleted treasury, and flooding paper money caused severe inflation. James Madison and George Washington feared the country was near collapse.
Luz subtracts. About how long after Congress adopted the Articles did they take effect, and what held them up?
- A little over 3 years, until Maryland ratified
- A little over 3 years, until Britain approved
- About 8 years, until the Constitution replaced them
- Under 1 year, because the states agreed quickly
Articles of Confederation, Article 2
Who made it: the Second Continental Congress. When: Adopted November 15, 1777; in force March 1, 1781. Where: Pennsylvania, where Congress met when it adopted them. For whom: the thirteen states, which had to approve them. Why: to set up a government for the union of states. Excerpt (Articles of Confederation (1781), Article 2; as printed in 1820, p. 8): "Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States in congress assembled." Source card "Articles of Confederation, Article 5". Who made it: the Second Continental Congress. When: Adopted November 15, 1777; in force March 1, 1781. Where: Pennsylvania, where Congress met when it adopted them. For whom: the thirteen states, which had to approve them. Why: to set up a government for the union of states. Excerpt (Articles of Confederation (1781), Article 5; as printed in 1820, p. 9): "In determining questions in the United States in congress assembled, each state shall have one vote."
Milo reads Articles 2 and 5 together. What do they say about where power lay?
- Mainly with the largest states, which had more votes
- Mainly with Congress, which could overrule the states
- Mainly with the states, which each had one vote
- Mainly with a president chosen by the states
The Articles: what the National Archives says
Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a milestone document. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles on November 15, 1777. All 13 states had to ratify, and disputes over representation, voting and western lands delayed this until Maryland ratified on March 1, 1781. Each state had one vote. Congress could make treaties and decide on peace and war, but it could not tax directly: states were to supply the money and decided how to collect it. Some major decisions needed the agreement of nine states. Congress faced a depleted treasury, and flooding paper money caused severe inflation. James Madison and George Washington feared the country was near collapse.
Pia asks why the Articles took until 1781 to take effect.
- Maryland was the single state in existence at the time
- Disputes over representation, voting and western lands delayed ratification
- Congress waited for Britain's approval
- States ratified quickly, but Congress delayed counting the votes of the states
Articles of Confederation, Article 8
Who made it: the Second Continental Congress. When: Adopted November 15, 1777; in force March 1, 1781. Where: Pennsylvania, where Congress met when it adopted them. For whom: the thirteen states, which had to approve them. Why: to set up a government for the union of states. Excerpt (Articles of Confederation (1781), Article 8; as printed in 1820, p. 11): "The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied, by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the several states…"
Ren reads that state legislatures set and collected the taxes. What problem could follow?
- Congress would print money to avoid asking the states
- A state could pay late or not at all, and Congress could not collect
- Congress would collect taxes directly from citizens
- Each state would refuse to pay anything to Congress
Shays' Rebellion
Who made it: George Washington's Mount Vernon, in its article on Shays' Rebellion. When: today. Where: Mount Vernon, Virginia. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain events that worried Washington. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Farmers in Massachusetts, many of them unpaid war veterans and deep in debt, protested at courthouses from August 1786. In September 1786 they closed the state court at Springfield. Congress could do little to respond. Source card "The Articles: what the National Archives says". Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a milestone document. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles on November 15, 1777. All 13 states had to ratify, and disputes over representation, voting and western lands delayed this until Maryland ratified on March 1, 1781. Each state had one vote. Congress could make treaties and decide on peace and war, but it could not tax directly: states were to supply the money and decided how to collect it. Some major decisions needed the agreement of nine states. Congress faced a depleted treasury, and flooding paper money caused severe inflation. James Madison and George Washington feared the country was near collapse.
Tala compares what worried two groups. Which pairing matches the cards?
- Leaders struggled with debt; Massachusetts farmers feared a weak central government
- Both groups wanted the Articles to stay exactly as they were
- Leaders feared a weak central government; Massachusetts farmers struggled with debt
- Leaders feared British invasion; farmers feared a new tax from Congress
The Articles: what the National Archives says
Who made it: the National Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a milestone document. Summary in our words, not a quotation: The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles on November 15, 1777. All 13 states had to ratify, and disputes over representation, voting and western lands delayed this until Maryland ratified on March 1, 1781. Each state had one vote. Congress could make treaties and decide on peace and war, but it could not tax directly: states were to supply the money and decided how to collect it. Some major decisions needed the agreement of nine states. Congress faced a depleted treasury, and flooding paper money caused severe inflation. James Madison and George Washington feared the country was near collapse. Source card "Problems under the Articles". Who made it: the Office of the Historian, US Department of State. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain the history of US foreign relations. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Congress had a nearly empty treasury and could not make states follow the 1783 Treaty of Paris on old debts. British troops stayed in forts near the Great Lakes. Congress could not stop Georgia from running its own policy toward Spanish Florida. Paper money flooded the country, and prices soared. States quarreled over land, taxes and trade.
Zee is asked which statement goes beyond what the cards support. Which should Zee pick?
- Congress had a depleted treasury
- The Articles were a total failure with no successes
- Some major decisions needed nine states
- Georgia ran its own policy toward Spanish Florida in these years
