Articles of Confederation Quiz

Which document was the United States' first official constitution?

• Articles of Confederation

• Declaration of Independence

• Mayflower Compact

• Magna Carta

Name one power of the central government under the Articles of Confederation.

• Levy taxes

• Regulate interstate commerce

• Declare war

• Establish a national currency

What was the structure of the government under the Articles of Confederation?

• Unicameral legislature with a separate judicial branch

• Bicameral legislature with a strong executive branch

• Unicameral legislature with no executive or judicial branch

• No government structure was established

What were the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation?

• Strict enforcement of laws

• Strong regulation of trade

• Inability to levy taxes, regulate trade, and enforce laws

• Unlimited power to levy taxes

How was the government structured under the Articles of Confederation?

• Communist regime

• Centralized monarchy

• Loose alliance of independent states

• Dictatorship

What powers did the central government have under the Articles of Confederation?

• Unlimited powers

• Limited powers

• Shared powers with the states

• No powers

What were the successes of the central government under the Articles of Confederation?

• Failure to establish a national court system

• Defeat in the Battle of Saratoga

• Negotiation of the Treaty of Paris and passage of the Northwest Ordinance

• Inability to negotiate trade agreements with foreign countries

What were the achievements of the central government under the Articles of Confederation?

• Establishment of a national bank

• Creation of a standing army

• Ratification of the Constitution

• Establishment of a postal system, negotiation of the Treaty of Paris, and passage of the Northwest Ordinance

What were the limitations of the government under the Articles of Confederation?

• Lack of power to tax, regulate trade, and enforce laws

• Strong enforcement of laws

• Unlimited power to tax and regulate trade

• Centralized government control

Why was it difficult to change or amend any existing law in the United States under the Articles?

• All 13 states had to agree to change something

• Most states loved all the laws in place

• The central government had the total authority to change laws, not the states.

• 9 of the 13 states had to agree to change a law.