Articles Of Confederation Scavenger Hunt Answer Key

Articles of Confederation Scavenger Hunt: Answer Key & Historical Deep Dive

The Articles of Confederation, America's first attempt at a national government, offers a fascinating glimpse into the challenges of nation-building. While short-lived, its impact on the Constitution is undeniable. This scavenger hunt answer key not only provides solutions but also delves deeper into the context and significance of each point, enriching your understanding of this pivotal period in American history.

Section 1: Structure and Powers of the Confederation

This section explores the fundamental structure and limitations of the Articles of Confederation government.

1. What was the primary governing body under the Articles of Confederation?

Answer: The unicameral (one-house) legislature, known as the Continental Congress.

Deep Dive: Unlike the later bicameral Congress (House and Senate), the Continental Congress held all legislative power. Each state had one vote regardless of its population, a point of contention that highlighted the inherent weaknesses of the Articles. This equal representation favored smaller states, preventing larger states from dominating the government. However, it also meant that the voices of larger populations were not proportionally represented.

2. Did the Articles of Confederation create an executive branch?

Answer: No. There was no separate executive branch.

Deep Dive: The absence of a strong executive branch was a significant weakness. The Continental Congress lacked the power to effectively enforce laws or carry out its policies. This lack of executive leadership led to a lack of coordination and consistent policy implementation across the states.

3. What was the role of the states under the Articles of Confederation?

Answer: The states retained significant sovereignty and autonomy.

Deep Dive: The Articles deliberately granted significant power to the individual states, reflecting a strong fear of centralized authority. This emphasis on state sovereignty, however, hampered the effectiveness of the national government. Each state functioned largely independently, making national unity difficult to achieve.

4. What powers did the Confederation Congress possess? List at least three.

Answer: The Confederation Congress had limited powers, including:

• Declaring war and making peace: The Congress could engage in international relations, though its ability to enforce treaties was severely limited.
• Entering into treaties and alliances: This power was essential for negotiating with foreign nations and securing trade agreements, but again, its effectiveness was constrained by the lack of a strong enforcement mechanism.
• Establishing a postal service: This relatively minor power nevertheless demonstrates the Congress's limited ability to provide essential services to the nation.
• Borrowing money: This power was crucial for funding the government, but without a strong tax system, the Congress struggled to repay its debts.
• Regulating coinage: The Congress attempted to establish a national currency, but its lack of enforcement power led to widespread economic instability with multiple currencies in circulation.

Deep Dive: The limited powers of the Confederation Congress underscore the cautious approach taken by the founding fathers. The fear of a tyrannical central government overshadowed the need for effective national governance.

5. What major power did the Confederation Congress lack?

Answer: The power to directly tax individuals.

Deep Dive: This was arguably the most significant weakness of the Articles. Without the power to directly tax, the Congress relied on requesting funds from the states, who were often unwilling or unable to comply. This financial weakness crippled the ability of the Confederation government to function effectively and meet its obligations.

Section 2: Weaknesses and Failures of the Confederation

This section analyzes the inherent flaws and shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation.

6. Describe the economic challenges faced by the nation under the Articles of Confederation.

Answer: The nation faced severe economic instability. The lack of a uniform currency, coupled with high state and national debts, led to inflation and widespread economic hardship. The inability to effectively regulate interstate commerce further hampered economic growth.

Deep Dive: Different states issued their own currencies, creating confusion and instability in the marketplace. Without a national banking system or uniform economic policies, the nascent economy was severely hindered. Foreign trade suffered due to the lack of national regulation, causing economic hardship for many citizens. This period vividly demonstrated the need for a unified national economic policy.

7. Explain Shay's Rebellion and its significance.

Answer: Shay's Rebellion was an uprising of farmers in Massachusetts protesting high taxes and debt. It highlighted the inability of the Confederation government to maintain order and enforce laws.

Deep Dive: This rebellion, though ultimately suppressed by state militias, served as a stark warning of the fragility of the government under the Articles. It demonstrated the breakdown of law and order and the vulnerability of the nation to internal conflict. The rebellion galvanized support for a stronger central government capable of protecting national interests.

8. How did the lack of a strong national defense impact the nation under the Articles of Confederation?

Answer: The weak national defense left the nation vulnerable to foreign threats. The Confederation government struggled to maintain a standing army and protect its interests.

Deep Dive: The absence of a powerful national military made the United States vulnerable to foreign powers. The country lacked the ability to effectively respond to international conflicts or protect its borders. The weakness of the national defense further exposed the flaws in the Articles of Confederation.

9. What were some of the challenges in amending the Articles of Confederation?

Answer: Amending the Articles required unanimous consent from all thirteen states, making it nearly impossible to change the document.

Deep Dive: The unanimous consent requirement was a significant barrier to reform. It reflected the deep-seated mistrust of a powerful central government, but it also rendered the Articles extremely inflexible. It became clear that a more flexible system was needed to address the evolving needs of the nation.

10. What was the general consensus among the states regarding the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation by the late 1780s?

Answer: By the late 1780s, many felt the Articles of Confederation were inadequate and ineffective.

Deep Dive: The culmination of economic instability, internal conflicts like Shay's Rebellion, and the weak national government convinced many that significant changes were needed. The widespread dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation laid the groundwork for the Constitutional Convention and the creation of the United States Constitution.

Section 3: The Road to the Constitution

This section bridges the gap between the failures of the Articles and the eventual adoption of the Constitution.

11. What event directly led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787?

Answer: The combination of economic hardship and the threat posed by Shay's Rebellion pushed leaders to convene a meeting to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation.

Deep Dive: Shay's Rebellion served as a catalyst for change. The fear that the entire nation could collapse under internal strife prompted the call for a Constitutional Convention. The urgency of the situation led many to participate, even those who were initially hesitant to reform the government.

12. What was the primary goal of the Constitutional Convention?

Answer: The primary goal was to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the Convention eventually led to the creation of an entirely new document, the United States Constitution.

Deep Dive: While initially intended to revise the Articles, the delegates soon recognized the need for a more fundamental change. The accumulated failures of the Articles of Confederation, compounded by economic and social turmoil, led to the decision to create a new framework for government.

13. How did the debates at the Constitutional Convention demonstrate the competing interests of the states?

Answer: Debates centered on issues like representation in Congress (large vs. small states) and the balance of power between the federal and state governments. The Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise were direct results of these competing interests.

Deep Dive: The conflicting interests between large and small states were central to the debates. The Virginia Plan favored proportional representation based on population, while the New Jersey Plan advocated for equal representation for each state. The Great Compromise resolved this by creating a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate. The Three-Fifths Compromise dealt with the thorny issue of counting enslaved persons for representation and taxation, illustrating the complicated compromise necessary to create a unified nation.

14. What were some of the major compromises reached at the Constitutional Convention?

Answer: The Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise were two crucial compromises reached at the Convention.

Deep Dive: The Great Compromise successfully addressed the issue of representation by establishing a bicameral legislature, balancing the interests of both large and small states. The Three-Fifths Compromise, while morally problematic, allowed for a temporary resolution on the issue of how to count enslaved people for purposes of representation and taxation. These compromises demonstrated the political skill and pragmatism needed to create a workable government from diverse interests.

15. Why was the ratification process for the Constitution contentious?

Answer: The ratification process was contentious because of concerns about the balance of power between the federal government and the states, and the lack of a Bill of Rights.

Deep Dive: Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution due to their concerns about the power of the new federal government and the potential threat to individual liberties. The promise to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution proved crucial in securing its ratification. The debates during this period demonstrated the enduring tensions between central authority and individual freedom.

This scavenger hunt answer key provides a comprehensive overview of the Articles of Confederation, its weaknesses, and its eventual replacement by the United States Constitution. By exploring these historical details, you gain a deeper appreciation of the complexities of early American governance and the challenges of nation-building. Remember that the historical context surrounding each point is essential for a complete understanding of the era. Further research into these topics will greatly enhance your understanding of this fascinating period in American history.