ACTIVITY
8.
The Articles of Confederation
What powers should a gouernment haue?
In 1781, the American colonists won their war for independence when a British army
surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. Having cast off their old government, Americans had
to set up a new one. What form should this new government take?
What kind of government would gouhave proposed if you had lived in the year 1781?
Would you have given a great deal of power to the United States Congress (the central
government of your newly independent country)? Or would you have wanted your state
government to be nearly independent? In this activity, you will be designing a plan of
government that you think is best.
First, think of yourself as a political leader of one of the original 13 states. Circle the
state of your choice:
CONNECTICUT
MASSACHUSETTS
PENNSYLVANIA
DELAWARE
NEW HAMPSHIRE
RHODE ISLAND
GEORGIA
NEW JERSEY
NEW YORK
SOUTH CAROLINA
MARYLAND
VIRGINIA
NORTH CAROLINA
Citizens of your adopted state ask you to represent them at an important meeting. The
main purpose of the meeting is to discuss various ideas for creating a new central government. It is understood that this government will have some authority for keeping the
13 states together as one nation. How much power should it be given? How shall the
different states be represented in this government? That is for you to decide.
Just before the meeting, you are given a document listing the questions to be considered.
These questions will form the agenda-or schedule of topics-for the meeting. Prepare
yourself for the discussion by answering all questions.
AGENDA
Questions to be considered
concerning the powers of
a new central government
Write the letter of your answer in the blank space at the right.
L
What nanle should be gioen to the new nation?
United States (b) Confederated States of America
(a)
Republic of the
(r) United States of
America (d) Other:
l_
Explain your choice.
Foundations of
Government
31
2,
Should.
the
states hatse
their ou)n separate gooernments? (o)
Yes (b)
No
2_
Explain your choice.
3, In
case one state is attacked bE a Joreign pou)er, should the other states
be expected, to come to its aid,? (o) \o, each.state should deal with
foreign dangers by itself . (b) Yes, each state should be alle to ^count
upon"all the"others to come to its defense. (c) A state should be free to
decide for itself whether to help other states under attack.
3_
Explain your choice.
lf
one state
is attacked .
.
CONNECTICUT
. . . how should the
other states respond?
the residents oJ one state haae the right to traoel Jreely to other
states? (o) Yes (b) No (c) If travelers are on business, they should
pay a tax to the state they are entering'
4. Should
Explain your choice'
5.
that congress is giaen pouer to rnake laws Jor the nation as a
uhole. How shallsmaller and larger states be represented in this Congress? (a) Each state, no matter what its population, should be entitled
voting in
t"o orrly one vote on a proposed law. (b) Representation and
Suppose
32
Government and You
4_
to the size of a state (for example, more
for Pennsylvania than for Delaware). (") Other arrangement: (De-
Congress should be according
votes
scribe.)
5_
Explain your choice.
6. How shall taxes be collected to pag Jor the ercpenses oJ the national gooernrnent? (o) The states should collect them according to what they
think is fair. (b) The people should pay a tax directly to the national
government. (c) The national government should get along without any
taxes,
6_
Explain your answex.
7.
To pass a law in the proposed Congress, hou maru1 states should be required to approoe it? (a) All (b) One more than half (a majority)
(c) Nine out of thirtegn (d) Other: (Describe.)
7_
Explain your choice.
8.
Should new states be alloused to ioi.n the original thi.rteen under a con'mlon
gooernment? (c) Yes (b) No
8_
Explain your choice.
9.
For a maior change to be made in this plan oJ goDernment, hous rnanA
states should agree to it? (o) All thirteen (b) Seven out of thirteen
(c) Nine out of thirteen (d) Other: (Describe.)
9_
Explain your choice.
Foundations of
Government
33
plan of government calibd the Articles of
1777, Congress submitted to the states a
yelr that the British surrendered at
confederation. It *""i]"a" effect i" rzai, th"'t"ry
iortao*rr. Study the thirteen Articles summarized below'
ln
,
Article
1.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
(SummarY of the Main Points)
The name of this nation shall be The United States of Amerida'
every power'
Article 2. Each state shall retain its own freedom, independence, and
States'
United
the
given
to
lurisdiction, and right, that is not expressly
others,
Article 3. Each state hereby enters into a firm league of friendship with the
agreeing to assist them against attacks'
Article
4.
people of each state shall have freedom of movement to and from any other
state.
Article
5. In the Congress,
each state shall have only one vote.
Article 6. Every state shall always keep a well regulated and disciplined militia. No
state shall go to war without the consent of Congress. No state shall form an alliance
with any other state without the consent of Congress'
Article
7.
The states shall have the power to appoint officers to the militia that they
raised.
Article 8. All expenses that come about due to war, shall be paid for out of a common
treasury, which siall be supplied by the states in proportion to the value of their land.
Article g. The United States Congress shall have the exclusive right and power of peace,
war, sending and receiving of ambassadors, and entering into treaties with foreign nations. The Congress shall be the last resort in disputes and differences between states' The
-also
have the following powers: regulating the alloy and value of coins
Congress shall
struJk by themselves and the states, ffxing the standard of weights and measures, regulating trade with Indians, and establishing post offices. In order for new laws to take
effect-, the vote of nine of thirteen states shall be required'
Article
10. If Congress is not in session, nine states can execute the powers of Congress.
Article
ll.
No state shall be admitted without the agreement of nine other states'
12. Debts of the central government are their debts only,
the states.
Article
and are not debts of
,
Article 13. These Articles shall not be changed without the agreement of legislatures of
thirteen states.
Now compare your plan of government with the historic plan of 1781. Go back to
your nine "Ag"rrdu" answers on pages 3f-$. Wherever your choice agrees with the
irticles, place a check. Wherever your choice does not agree, place an X.
34
Government and You
THINKING IT OVER
Again, imagine yourself in the role of a state leader during the American Revolution.
Other leaders of your state want to know whether or not you approve of the Articles of
Confederation. Give them an honest evaluation of it by sending them a "Confidential
Memo."
CONFIDENTIAL MEMO
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT: Articles of Confederation
I am exhausted. What a task it is to create a new government. The powers given to
the central government are
As
I
see
it,
these powers
will be (enough, not enough, too much) to form a workable
government for our nation. (Underline one oJ the choices in parentheses.)
been better
It might have
if
You ask lor my recommendation. should our state approve or reject the Articles? My
answer is:
Foundations of Government
35