The Articles of Confederation: what the first government could and could not do
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
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."
Ari reads Article 5. Rhode Island had far fewer people than Virginia. What does the article say about their votes in Congress?
- Each had one vote, whatever its population
- Virginia had more votes because it had more people
- Votes were set by how much tax each state paid
- Each had two votes, like states in the later Senate
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…"
Bo reads that state legislatures laid and levied the taxes. What problem does that create for Congress?
- Congress could borrow from foreign countries and nowhere else
- Congress had to ask the states for money and could not collect it
- Congress could tax directly but chose not to
- The states paid nothing because they had no taxes of their own to collect
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.
Esme reads that war and treaties needed nine of 13 states. What does that show about a bare majority of seven states?
- Any one state could block those decisions
- Seven states could not decide those matters alone
- The largest states held the votes on those decisions
- Thirteen of thirteen states had to agree on those decisions
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.
Luz reads the Shays' Rebellion card. Which problem was behind the protests?
- A vote to leave the Confederation
- Farmers in debt, many of them unpaid veterans
- A new tax that Congress had set
- A British ban on trade with Massachusetts
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." 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.
Milo wants Congress's own words about voting. Which card should Milo use?
- The National Archives card, because the archive holds the Articles
- The Article 5 card, because Congress wrote those words
- Neither, since the Articles were not printed until after 1787
- Either card, since both describe the Articles
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.
Noah reads the Northwest Ordinance card. Which statement about the Confederation Congress is supported?
- It ended slavery across the United States
- It solved the Articles' problems with taxes and trade
- It could do nothing without thirteen states agreeing
- It could still pass a lasting plan for new states
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.
Pia reads the convention card. What did the delegates in Philadelphia decide by mid-June 1787?
- To ratify the Articles after Maryland's vote
- To declare independence from Britain
- To design a new government instead of just revising the Articles
- To add a bill of rights to the Articles and then send it to the states
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."
Ren reads Article 2. Which power belonged to the states?
- Any power the Articles did not expressly give to Congress
- Any power the Articles did not expressly give to the states
- The power to coin money for the whole nation
- The power to overrule Congress on any matter
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 reads that Congress faced a depleted treasury and flooding paper money. Which claim does the card support?
- Paper money alone caused the end of the Articles
- The Confederation faced money problems, including severe inflation
- The states had no money problems; just Congress did
- Inflation fixed the treasury problem
Zee sorts one strength and one weakness of Congress from the card. Which pair is right?
- Strength: it could tax directly. Weakness: it could make treaties
- Strength: it could make treaties. Weakness: it could not tax directly
- Strength: it could draft soldiers. Weakness: it had too many votes
- Strength: it could amend the Articles alone. Weakness: it had one vote