Exploring the Articles of Confederation and Its Impact

The video discusses the Articles of Confederation, the first government of the United States, highlighting its weaknesses in political structure, economic management, and foreign policy. It explains how the Articles created a weak federal government due to fear of centralized power, leading to issues like lack of taxation power and inability to regulate commerce. The video also covers foreign policy challenges with England, Spain, and France, and internal issues like Shay's Rebellion. Despite these weaknesses, the Articles achieved success in the orderly settlement of the Northwest Territory. The video concludes with the transition to a stronger federal government at the Constitutional Convention.

What was the first government of the United States?

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Constitution

• The Continental Congress

• The Bill of Rights

Who wrote the Articles of Confederation?

• John Dickinson

• Benjamin Franklin

• Thomas Jefferson

• John Adams

What was a major political weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• No legislative branch

• No executive branch

• No state governments

• No local governments

How many votes did each state have under the Articles of Confederation?

• Based on population

• Two votes per state

• One vote per state

• Three votes per state

What was a significant economic weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• Inability to form alliances

• Inability to impose taxes

• Inability to create laws

• Inability to declare war

Why was interstate trade problematic under the Articles of Confederation?

• Only the federal government could trade

• Trade was banned

• There were no trade routes

• States imposed tariffs on each other

Which country closed off U.S. access to the Mississippi River in 1784?

• Portugal

• Spain

• England

• France

What was the impact of the Barbary Pirates on American ships?

• They ignored American ships

• They traded goods

• They harassed and took sailors hostage

• They provided protection

What was Shays' Rebellion?

• A rebellion led by Native Americans

• A movement to support the Articles of Confederation

• A rebellion by farmers against state taxes and foreclosures

• A protest against British taxes

What was a major success of the Articles of Confederation?

• The creation of a strong federal government

• The settlement of the Northwest Territory

• The defeat of the British in the War of 1812

• The establishment of a national bank