Articles of Confederation and the Constitution Review Sheet

Front

The Articles of Confederation were:

Back

The first constitution/government of the United States.

Answer explanation

The Articles of Confederation were indeed the first constitution of the United States, established to unify the states under a central government during and after the Revolutionary War.

Front

Which of the following was a strength of the Articles of Confederation? The ability to make treaties and alliances, A strong central government, The power to tax citizens directly, A national court system

Back

The ability to make treaties and alliances

Answer explanation

The Articles of Confederation allowed the ability to make treaties and alliances, which was a significant strength. However, it lacked a strong central government, the power to tax directly, and a national court system.

Front

Which of the following was a major problem faced by the government under the Articles of Confederation? Inability to enforce laws, Excessive federal authority, Well-organized national judiciary, Effective control over interstate commerce

Back

Inability to enforce laws

Answer explanation

The Articles of Confederation lacked the power to tax, which hindered the federal government's ability to raise revenue. This weakness contributed to financial instability and limited the government's effectiveness.

Front

The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 established a system for surveying, selling, and governing western lands.

Back

They established a system for surveying, selling, and governing western lands.

Answer explanation

The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 specifically established a system for surveying, selling, and governing western lands, making this the correct choice. This was a strength of the Articles of Confederation Government because it created a plan for territories joining as new states.

Front

Shays' Rebellion exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation by:

Back

demonstrating the inability of the federal government to maintain order and respond to internal threats

Answer explanation

Shays' Rebellion highlighted the federal government's inability to maintain order and respond to internal threats, revealing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Front

The original purpose of the Constitutional Convention was:

Back

to revise the Articles of Confederation

Answer explanation

The original purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation, which were found to be ineffective in governing the new nation.

Front

At the Constitutional Convention, what was one major issue that divided the delegates?

Back

How states would be represented in Congress.

Answer explanation

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention indeed agreed on a stronger central government, but they had significant disagreements regarding how representation in Congress should be structured.

Front

The Great Compromise was an agreement that resolved which issue?

Back

Representation in Congress

Answer explanation

The Great Compromise addressed the issue of representation in Congress by creating a bicameral legislature, balancing the needs of both large and small states. This resolved the conflict between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans.

Front

The makeup of the House of Representatives and the Senate is as follows: Options: The House has 435 members based on population, and the Senate has 100 members with two from each state. The House has 100 members, and the Senate has 435 members based on population. Both the House and Senate have 100 members each. The House and Senate both have members based on state population.

Back

The House has 435 members based on population, and the Senate has 100 members with two from each state.

Answer explanation

The correct choice states that the House has 435 members based on population, while the Senate has 100 members, with two from each state. This accurately reflects the structure of the U.S. Congress.

Front

The number of representatives for each state is determined by what process that occurs every ten years?

Back

A national census

Answer explanation

The number of representatives in each state is determined by a national census, which occurs every ten years. This process counts the population and allocates congressional seats accordingly.