Title: Grading the Articles of Confederation
Historical Context: While in the midst of the American Revolution, the Continental Congress decided to
create a government to lead the new nation. In 1777, after much debate, the Articles of Confederation was
completed, becoming America’s first constitution. The Articles of Confederation did not create a strong
national government like we have today. Instead, the Articles of Confederation created a national
government with limited powers because many Americans feared a strong government would lead to an
oppressive government like the British government.
The Articles of Confederation created a loose alliance between the thirteen states. The states
maintained most of the power and the new national Confederation Congress was granted few powers. The
Confederation Congress had the power to wage war, declare peace, make treaties, coin money, and
conduct foreign affairs. It did not, however, have the power to raise taxes or regulate trade. When the
national government needed money, the Confederation Congress had to ask the states to contribute funds,
as the states had the right to tax its citizens; a state could refuse to contribute. During the Revolution,
America borrowed millions of dollars from foreign nations and individuals. Without the power to tax, the
Confederation Congress could not pay off its frustrated lenders.
The Confederation Congress had other weaknesses. There was no president to lead the country
and enforce laws passed by the Congress. There was no court system to settle disputes between the states.
Laws were difficult to pass because nine out of the thirteen states (almost 70%) had to approve a law
before it could go into effect. Amending the Articles of Confederation was considerably more difficult; all
thirteen states had to agree.
The Confederation Congress did pass two laws that were beneficial to the country. The Land
Ordinance of 1785 decided how to divide the territory gained in the Treaty of Paris, the Northwest
Territory. The second law, the Northwest Ordinance described how the territory would be governed and
how a territory could be admitted into the country as a state. The Northwest Ordinance also outlawed
slavery in the Northwest Territory.
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to foreign countries taking advantage of the
new nation. Great Britain refused to remove its troops from the Ohio River Valley. Spain closed the Port
of New Orleans to American farmers who depended on the Mississippi River and the Port of New
Orleans to ship their goods east. The Confederation Congress was too weak to handle the nations that
were bullying America. The Confederation Congress was even too weak to handle the problems within
the United States. States argued over territory and boundaries. Each state printed its own money causing
the states to bicker over how much each state’s dollar was worth. In June 1783, veterans of the Revolution
surrounded the Congress in Philadelphia demanding to be paid for their service during the war; the
Congressional delegates fled the city after having the veterans’ bayonets pointed at them.
In 1787, the weakness of the Articles of Confederation became obvious. Due to an economic
depression that occurred in the country after the Revolution, many farmers had difficulty paying their
taxes and debts. In Massachusetts, the state instead of helping the farmers, decided to increase taxes. As a
result, farmers began having their farms foreclosed. A Revolutionary War veteran, Daniel Shay, decided
to lead a rebellion. Shay and 1,500 men began attacking court houses to prevent foreclosure proceedings
from occurring. Shay and his men also led an attack on the state arsenal. The state militia stationed at the
arsenal defeated Shays’ men but the rebellion known as Shays’ Rebellion led the nation’s leaders to
believe that the Articles of Confederation were too weak and if the country was to survive, a stronger
national government was needed. In the summer of 1787, 55 state delegates met in Philadelphia in what
became the Constitutional Convention; the Articles of Confederation was abolished and a new plan of
government was created to replace it: The United States Constitution.
Correlation to NYS Grades 7/8 Social Studies Core Curriculum:
Unit Four: Experiments in Government
I. The Articles of Confederation and the Critical Period
Suggested Timeframe: One class period
Materials and Resources:
 Worksheet – “School of Governments Report Card” (attached)
 Classroom notes and/or textbook
Student Objectives: Students will be able to:
 Grade the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation
 Explain their reasons for assigning the Articles of Confederation its grades
 Generate suggestion to improve the Articles of Confederation.
Teaching Strategies and Methodologies:
1. This activity is a review for a quiz or test on the Articles of Confederation. In class on the day
before the examination, provide students with a copy of the Articles of Confederation Report
Card (attached).
2. Tell the students that they will be teachers at the “School of Governments” and it is report card
time. It is their job to grade a student named the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of
Confederation takes several courses and for each course they have to assign a grade. After
assigning a grade for a course, the students will also have to explain why they chose the grade;
they must use historical facts for the explanation. They also need to make a suggestion on how
the Articles of Confederation can improve in that course. The students may use their notes or
textbook to help them complete the assignment. As a class go over the different courses the
Articles of Confederation takes and go over the goals for each course. Stress that the grade
assigned should reflect how well the Articles of Confederation met the course goals.
3. Allow 10-15 minutes for students to assign their grades and write their suggestions. Move around
the room to monitor students; if a student is assigning grades that are not correct, then individual
guidance is necessary.
4. After students are finished, have a class discussion to create a class report card for the Articles of
Confederation. For each course, call on students to state the grade they assigned and why. After
the discussion, take a class vote on what grade should be assigned for the course. Repeat process
for each course taken by the Articles of Confederation.
5. After the class report card is finished, ask the students for suggestions to improve the Articles of
Confederation. Most classes will say that the Articles of Confederation has to go to summer
school and the teacher will tell them that the Articles of Confederation will go to summer school
in 1787 in Philadelphia. At summer school, teachers like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin,
and James Madison will attempt to improve the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately they
decided to expel the Articles of Confederation.
Evaluation/Assessment:
As an informal assessment, monitor the students as they assign their grades. It is fairly obvious to
determine if a student understands the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation by the
grades the student assigns. This activity is good feedback to which students need extra assistance in order
to pass an examination on the Articles of Confederation. For a formal assessment, the teacher may
administer a quiz on the Articles of Confederation
About the Author: Kathy Velasco is a 7th grade teacher at Wilbur H. Lynch Middle School in
Amsterdam, NY.
The School of Governments Report Card
Student Name: Articles of Confederation
Subject Area
Raising Taxes
Course Goal: Raise enough taxes to
maintain the government, fund an army,
and pay for debts.
Passing Laws:
Course Goal: Create a system for passing
laws that is fair and not too difficult.
Amending Constitutions
Course Goal: Create a process for amending
the constitution. The process should not
make amending impossible.
Handling National Affairs
Course Goals: Maintain order in the
country; earn respect of states and citizens
so they follow laws. Pay off debts to
citizens.
Handling Foreign Affairs
Course Goals: Gain respect in the world.
Create fair trade agreements. Create treaties
that favor your country. Pay off foreign
debts.
Organizing A Government
Course Goals: Create a strong central
government; Have a strong leader; Create a
court system to handle disputes between the
states.
Handling of the Northwest
Territory
Course Goals: Create a system for governing
and maintaining the land gained from the
Treaty of Paris. Create a system to make the
territories states.
Grade
Reason for grades/Suggestions