AP Gov Articles of Confederation Weaknesses
35 flashcards covering AP Gov Articles of Confederation Weaknesses for the AP-GOVERNMENT Foundations of Democracy section.
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation are a critical component of the AP United States Government and Politics curriculum, as outlined by the College Board. This foundational document established the first governing framework for the United States but ultimately failed to create a strong central government, leading to issues such as lack of taxation power, inability to regulate commerce, and challenges in maintaining order and unity among the states.
On practice exams, questions about the Articles of Confederation often require students to analyze specific weaknesses and their implications for governance. Common traps include confusing the Articles with the later Constitution or overlooking how these weaknesses directly influenced the drafting of the Constitution. Students should be prepared to recognize how these historical issues relate to contemporary governance challenges. A practical tip often overlooked is understanding the context of these weaknesses in relation to current federal and state dynamics, which can provide deeper insights into the evolution of American political structure.
Terms (35)
- 01
What was a major limitation of the Articles of Confederation regarding taxation?
The Articles of Confederation did not grant the federal government the power to impose taxes, leading to financial instability and reliance on state contributions for revenue (College Board AP CED).
- 02
How did the Articles of Confederation affect interstate commerce?
The Articles of Confederation lacked the authority to regulate interstate commerce, resulting in trade disputes and economic disarray among states (College Board AP CED).
- 03
What was the impact of the Articles of Confederation on the military?
Under the Articles, the federal government could not raise a standing army or compel states to provide troops, weakening national defense (College Board AP CED).
- 04
Which branch of government was non-existent under the Articles of Confederation?
There was no executive branch under the Articles of Confederation, leading to challenges in enforcing laws and implementing policies (College Board AP CED).
- 05
What was the process for amending the Articles of Confederation?
Amendments to the Articles required unanimous consent from all thirteen states, making changes nearly impossible (College Board AP CED).
- 06
How often did Congress meet under the Articles of Confederation?
Congress met infrequently, with sessions determined by the states, leading to inconsistent governance (College Board AP CED).
- 07
What was a key weakness of the Articles of Confederation regarding foreign relations?
The Articles did not allow the federal government to negotiate treaties effectively, as states could act independently in foreign affairs (College Board AP CED).
- 08
What was the significance of Shays' Rebellion in relation to the Articles of Confederation?
Shays' Rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles, particularly the inability of the federal government to maintain order and respond to civil unrest (College Board AP CED).
- 09
How did the Articles of Confederation handle the issue of representation in Congress?
The Articles established a unicameral legislature where each state had one vote, regardless of population size, leading to unequal representation (College Board AP CED).
- 10
What was the effect of the lack of a national currency under the Articles of Confederation?
The absence of a national currency caused confusion and hindered economic stability, as states issued their own currencies (College Board AP CED).
- 11
What was the role of state governments under the Articles of Confederation?
State governments retained most powers, leading to a weak central authority that struggled to govern effectively (College Board AP CED).
- 12
What was a consequence of the Articles of Confederation's inability to regulate trade?
The inability to regulate trade led to economic competition between states and tariffs that hindered interstate commerce (College Board AP CED).
- 13
How did the Articles of Confederation affect the ability to raise revenue?
The federal government could not directly tax citizens, relying instead on voluntary contributions from states, which were often insufficient (College Board AP CED).
- 14
What was a major consequence of the Articles of Confederation's requirement for supermajority votes?
The requirement for a supermajority (9 out of 13 states) to pass legislation made it difficult to enact laws and respond to national issues (College Board AP CED).
- 15
What was the relationship between state and federal powers under the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles created a confederation where state powers were supreme, limiting the effectiveness of the federal government (College Board AP CED).
- 16
What was the significance of the Northwest Ordinance under the Articles of Confederation?
The Northwest Ordinance established a method for admitting new states and set a precedent for westward expansion, despite the weaknesses of the Articles (College Board AP CED).
- 17
How did the Articles of Confederation address the issue of slavery?
The Articles did not directly address slavery, allowing states to determine their own policies, which led to varying practices across the nation (College Board AP CED).
- 18
What was the impact of the Articles of Confederation on judicial authority?
The Articles did not establish a national judiciary, resulting in a lack of federal court systems to resolve disputes (College Board AP CED).
- 19
What led to the eventual replacement of the Articles of Confederation?
The numerous weaknesses and inability to govern effectively prompted the Constitutional Convention, leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution (College Board AP CED).
- 20
What was the effect of the Articles of Confederation on the ability to conduct diplomacy?
The federal government under the Articles lacked the authority to enforce treaties or conduct foreign policy effectively, leading to diplomatic challenges (College Board AP CED).
- 21
How did the Articles of Confederation impact the federal response to rebellion?
The federal government could not effectively respond to rebellions, as seen in Shays' Rebellion, due to lack of military power (College Board AP CED).
- 22
What was the role of Congress under the Articles of Confederation?
Congress served as the sole governing body, but its powers were limited and often ineffective due to lack of authority (College Board AP CED).
- 23
How did the Articles of Confederation influence the debate over federalism?
The weaknesses of the Articles sparked debates about the need for a stronger federal government, leading to the creation of the Constitution (College Board AP CED).
- 24
What was one of the main reasons the Articles of Confederation failed?
The inability to enforce laws and collect taxes led to a lack of respect for the national government and its authority (College Board AP CED).
- 25
What was the effect of the Articles of Confederation on state sovereignty?
The Articles emphasized state sovereignty, which limited the effectiveness of the national government and created conflicts between states (College Board AP CED).
- 26
What was a key factor in the inability to pass laws under the Articles of Confederation?
The requirement for a supermajority made it exceedingly difficult to pass legislation, often resulting in legislative gridlock (College Board AP CED).
- 27
How did the Articles of Confederation address the issue of land claims?
The Articles allowed states to manage their own land claims, leading to disputes and conflicts over territory (College Board AP CED).
- 28
What was the significance of the Articles of Confederation in American history?
The Articles represented the first attempt at a national government in the U.S., highlighting the challenges of governance and leading to the Constitution (College Board AP CED).
- 29
What was the role of the Continental Congress in relation to the Articles of Confederation?
The Continental Congress served as the governing body before the Articles were ratified, laying the groundwork for national governance (College Board AP CED).
- 30
How did the Articles of Confederation impact the relationship between the states?
The Articles created a loose alliance of states that often acted independently, leading to tensions and rivalries (College Board AP CED).
- 31
What was a major economic issue faced under the Articles of Confederation?
Economic instability was prevalent, as the government could not regulate currency or trade, leading to inflation and debt crises (College Board AP CED).
- 32
How did the Articles of Confederation affect the ability to conduct war?
The federal government could not compel states to provide troops or resources for war efforts, weakening military capability (College Board AP CED).
- 33
What was the effect of the Articles of Confederation on public policy?
The inability to enact cohesive national policies due to state dominance led to inconsistent governance and policy failures (College Board AP CED).
- 34
What was a major political consequence of the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles contributed to a lack of trust in the federal government, prompting calls for a stronger centralized authority (College Board AP CED).
- 35
What was the impact of the Articles of Confederation on economic growth?
The inability to regulate commerce and impose taxes hindered economic growth and stability across the nation (College Board AP CED).