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Articles of Confederation Packet
Directions: Answer the following questions using the classroom textbooks (pages 126129) and the packet materials provided. These answers will serve as your notes (so take
great care in constructing clear and complete responses!)
Important Definitions
a) Define each of these terms:
1) Republic – a government in which the citizens rule through elected
representatives
2) Republicanism – the belief that government should be based on the
consent of the people
3) Confederation – an alliance permitting states or nations to act together on
matters of mutual concern – “a firm league of friendship”
Organization of the Central Government
a) Using the actual Articles of Confederation, determine which article describe the
following:
1) States enter into a “firm league of friendship”
Article_III__
2) States will give “full faith and credit” to the records, acts and judicial proceedings
of every other state. Article _IV____________
3) The number of votes each state will “in determining questions in the United
States” Article __V____________________ How many? __1_______
4) The number of states needed to “authorize” the “execution of power” of
Congress. Article _X_______________________ How many? _9________
5) The number of states needed to make any “alteration” (or changes) to the Articles
of Confederation Article __XIII_________________ How many? _13_____
b) Define Unicameral. A one-house legislature.
c) How many branches of government were created by the Articles of Confederation?
Only one – The Legislative Branch represented by the Congress of the
Confederation
Powers of the Central Government
1) Name ten powers the Articles of Confederation granted the central government.
Declare war, set up foreign relations, borrow money, coin money, set up postal
system, create army/navy, set up territories, conduct relations with Native
Americans, make treaties, and enforce treaties
2) Name three economic powers denied to Congress in the Articles of
Confederation.
No taxation, could not regulate foreign trade and could not regulate interstate
trade
3) Describe how the “powers denied” impacted the “powers granted” to Congress.
The Articles could not pay for any of its duties nor could they force states to
comply with any of its laws.
Dealing with Western Territories
1) Name two problems that are evident with the western territories of the United
States using the “Western Land Claims, 1783” map.
There is a lot of land and states have competing claims to ownership of this
land
2) What did the Land Ordinance of 1785 do?
Set up a system that will divide up the western lands into “townships” that
could be more easily subdivided for sale.
3) What were the “Northwest Territories”?
The five “states” that make up the Northwest portion of the new territories.
The future states of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin make up
the “Old Northwest”
4) What are the “three steps” to admitting a new state (which we still use today) that
was established by the Northwest Ordinance?
Step 1 – population < 5,000
Congress provides a territorial governor and judges
Step 2 – population =5,000-60,000
Settlers could write temporary constitution and elect own government
Step 3 – population > 60,000
Territory could apply Congress for statehood
Economic and Foreign Problems
1) What was the most serious economic problem facing the United States following
the American Revolution?
Massive debt from the Revolutionary War ($75 million)
2) How did the limitations of the Articles of Confederation affect the ability of
Congress to address this problem?
No ability to tax or force debts to be paid
3) Name several of the ongoing disputes between the United States and Great Britain
during this period.
Failure to repay debts
Punishments of loyalists
British refusal to leave forts
British arming the western tribes
4) Describe the problems posed by Spain on the United States’ southern border.
Disputed land on the Georgia and South Carolina borders
Spanish arming of the Seminoles
Refusal of “right of deposit” in New Orleans
5) How did the limitations of the Articles of Confederation affect the ability of
Congress to address this problem?
Could not declare or threaten war because they could not force states to
provide money or troops