Ch. 7.

1 A New Government for a New Nation – The Articles of Confederation

*Define:

1. bicameral having two separate lawmaking chambers

2. republic a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives

3. ordinance law

4. depreciate to fall in value

5. constitution a plan for government

6. confederation A group of states or countries that join with a weak central government

1. What did the new states write to plan their new governments? Eight states had drafted constitutions
before the end of the year.

2. In what 3 ways did they limit the power of the governments? They crafted constitutions that limited
the power of the governor. Pennsylvania's constitution replaced the office entirely with an elected 12-
person council. Also divided power between the governor (or council) and the legislature.

3. Why did Americans want the central government to be weak? They expected each state would
remain free to act independently on most issues . The states would rely on a central government only
to wage war and handle relations with other countries.

4. What were the Articles of Confederation? The Articles were the nation's first constitution .

5. How was power divided between the states and national (central) government – which was
stronger; which was weaker? They established a weak central government and each state retained
"its sovereignty, freedom and independence .

6. What powers did the national government (Congress) have? The Congress could conduct foreign
affairs , maintain armed forces , borrow money , and issue currency.

7. What powers did the national government NOT have? They couldn’t regulate trade, force citizens to
join the army, or impose taxes.

8. List at least 5 problems or weaknesses of the Articles. The new central government had no chief
executive , not every state supported the Articles of Confederation at first , and disputes over land
also threatened to block approval of the Articles.
9. Briefly describe:

a. the Ordinance of 1785 - an ordinance, or law, that set up a process to survey and sell
the lands north of the Ohio River.
 b. Northwest Ordinance -  A single Northwest Territory from lands north of the Ohio River
and east of the Mississippi River. 

c. Land Act of 1800 - A law that made it easierfor people to buy land in the territory .

10. How and why did Continental money depreciate? The Land Act of 1800 allowed buyers to pay
half of the money at the time of purchase and the rest in four yearly payments. Which the
Confederation government had trouble with financial issues cause of it .
11. What were the consequences of the depreciation? The public began to doubt the money was
worth anything. Also in the 1780s, the Continental Congress faced a large debt. During the
Revolutionary War, Congress had borrowed money from American citizens and foreign
governments and still owed Revolutionary soldiers pay for their military service.

12. Read the “Plan for Import Tax”, “Relations with Britain” and “Relations with Spain” sections. For
each one, identify which weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were creating problems.

For “Plan for Import Tax’’  Morris had proposed a 5 percent tax on imported goods to help pay
the national debt but he had to change the Articles of Confederation. For ”Relations with Britain “ the
problem was with foreign governments also revealed the weaknesses of the Americans. For
“Relations with Spain” the problem was that they wanted a new trade agreement with Spain. But
Representatives from the Southern states, however, blocked the agreement because it did not
include the right to use the Mississippi River.