Name:_____________________________________________________ Period:________ Date:________
Articles of Confederation Fill- In Tile Chart
Had
Why did it have this?
A confederation, a loose
alliance of states where the
national (central)
government had little power.
States had most of the
power.
National government only
had one body, a Congress. It
had no chief executive
(president)
Congress was a unicameral
(one house) legislature
where each state was given
one vote regardless of its
size.
Nine out of 13 states had to
approve a law before it could
go into effect (a super
majority)
Amendments (changes) had
to be approved by all 13
states
Feared a strong, far away
national government would
violate people’s rights.
Believed government should
be close to people to be
controlled
Lack of a single leader to lead
the country, carry out and
enforce the laws.
Feared that some states
would have more power and
dominate others in the
national government.
Wanted to protect state
powers so that the central
government doesn’t get too
powerful.
Practically impossible to
change laws. Unfair to the
majority, and hurts the
common good.
States would choose not to
pay taxes and the federal
government had no money
to work with or pay debts
(loans)
If states and citizens
disobeyed a national law or
agreement, there was no
way the national government
could make them obey.
Congress didn’t have power
to tax citizens; it could only
request money from states
Congress had no power over
the state governments and
their citizens. Only the state
governments had authority
over their citizens.
Congress didn’t have the
power to create an army: it
could only request it from
states. States had militias.
Problem with this? Conflict
with Ideals?
Feared a strong government
with an army would take
citizen’s rights away.
Congress didn’t have power
to collect state owed debts
(loans)
Congress could not regulate
trade among the states
Feared a government which
could force states to pay
taxes they didn’t want to.
States taxed goods passing
through them to other
states. This hurt trade and
the economy.
Prevented efficient and
productive trade. Led to
inflation (money went down
in value/ prices went up) and
hurt economy
Each state could coin its own
money. There was no
national currency.
National government had no
Judicial Branch; there were
no national courts. Only
state courts existed.
Congress didn’t have the
power to settle
disagreements between the
states.
Feared an unfair court
system that could hurt
people’s rights.
Disagreements could not be
solved and this created
problems among the states
Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation.
1. It won the war of independence against Great Britain.
2. It negotiated favorable terms in the Treaty of _______________ that ended the
American Revolution.
3. It provided that each state recognize the laws of other states. For instance, a marriage
in one state would be valid in all other states. Citizens could travel freely from one state
to another. Criminals who escaped across state borders could be sent back to the state
where they committed their crime.
4. Northwest Ordinances of 1785 and 1787 which:
5. What was Shay’s Rebellion? Why did it occur? What was its historical importance?