#AP US Government: Articles of Confederation - Night Before Review 🚀

Hey, you've got this! Let's nail down the Articles of Confederation. This guide is designed to be your quick, high-impact review for tonight. We'll make sure you're confident and ready for anything the exam throws at you. Let's get started!

#🏛️ The Articles of Confederation: A Quick Overview

The Articles of Confederation were the first attempt at a US government, adopted in 1777 during the American Revolution. Think of it as a rough draft. It created a weak central government and a loose alliance of independent states. It was designed to avoid the tyranny they had just fought against, but it swung too far in the other direction. This led to major problems, which we'll dive into now.

#📉 Key Weaknesses of the Articles

Here's where things started to fall apart. The Articles had some serious flaws that made governing the new nation incredibly difficult. These are essential to understand for the exam!

#1. 🤕 Weak Central Government

• Problem: The central government was too weak to enforce laws or effectively govern. States held most of the power.
• Impact: Led to disunity and made it hard to address national issues.

#2. 💸 No Taxation Powers

• Problem: The federal government couldn't tax citizens directly. It had to ask the states for money, which they often refused.
• Impact: The government was constantly broke and couldn't pay off debts from the Revolutionary War. 💸

#3. 🚧 No Control Over Commerce

• Problem: The central government couldn't regulate trade between states or with other countries.
• Impact: Led to trade wars between states, economic instability, and difficulty in international trade. 🚧

#4. ⚖️ No Executive or Judicial Branches

• Problem: There was no president to enforce laws and no national court system to interpret them.
• Impact: Made it impossible to have consistent laws or a functioning legal system. ⚖️

#5. 🤝 Unanimity Required for Amendments

• Problem: All 13 states had to agree to change the Articles. Good luck with that!
• Impact: Made it impossible to fix the flaws in the Articles or adapt to new challenges. 🤝

#💥 Shays' Rebellion: The Breaking Point

Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787) was an armed uprising in Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays and other farmers. They were upset about economic hardship and foreclosures. This rebellion exposed the weakness of the Articles.

#Example

The Massachusetts government struggled to put down the rebellion because it lacked a strong national army. This highlighted the need for a more powerful central government that could protect states and enforce laws. 💡

Shays' Rebellion, a pivotal moment demonstrating the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Shays' Rebellion is a critical event to understand. It directly led to the Constitutional Convention. This is a common theme in FRQs and MCQs.

#📝 Things to Review

#Key Terms

• Articles of Confederation: The first constitution of the US, with a weak central government.
• Weak Central Government: Central authority with limited power.
• No Taxation Powers: Federal government's inability to collect taxes.
• No Control Over Commerce: Lack of regulation over interstate and international trade.
• No Executive or Judicial Branches: Absence of a president or national court system.
• Unanimity for Changes: Requirement that all states agree to amend the Articles.
• Shays' Rebellion: Armed uprising highlighting the Articles' weaknesses.
• US Constitution: The current constitution, establishing a stronger central government.

#Key Questions

1. What were the main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? (Hint: Think about the 5 points we discussed.)
2. Why was the lack of taxation power so detrimental?
3. How did Shays' Rebellion expose the flaws of the Articles?
4. What was the significance of the requirement for unanimous consent to amend the Articles?
5. How did the US Constitution address the shortcomings of the Articles?

#🎯 Final Exam Focus

• High-Priority Topics: Weaknesses of the Articles, Shays' Rebellion, the transition to the Constitution.
• Common Question Types: MCQs on the specific powers (or lack thereof) under the Articles, FRQs comparing the Articles to the Constitution, and SAQs on the impact of Shays' Rebellion.
• Time Management: Quickly identify the core issues in the question. Don't get bogged down in details. Focus on the big picture.
• Common Pitfalls: Confusing the Articles with the Constitution, not understanding the impact of a weak central government.
• Strategies: Use mnemonics and analogies to remember key points. Practice explaining the concepts out loud to solidify your understanding.

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Practice Question

Practice Questions

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation? (A) It established a strong national army. (B) It gave the federal government the power to tax. (C) It lacked a national court system. (D) It allowed for easy amendment processes.

2. Shays' Rebellion was primarily a result of: (A) Disputes over interstate trade. (B) The lack of a national currency. (C) Economic hardships faced by farmers. (D) The influence of foreign powers.

#Short Answer Question

Explain how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the call for a new constitution. Include at least two specific weaknesses in your answer.

#Free Response Question

Evaluate the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation as the first governing document of the United States. In your response, be sure to:

• Define the Articles of Confederation.
• Identify and explain at least three weaknesses of the Articles.
• Explain how these weaknesses contributed to the adoption of the US Constitution.

Scoring Breakdown (FRQ)

• Definition of the Articles (1 point): A clear definition stating it was the first constitution of the US with a weak central government.
• Identification of Weaknesses (3 points): 1 point for identifying each of the three weaknesses (e.g., no taxation power, no control over commerce, no executive branch).
• Explanation of Weaknesses (3 points): 1 point for explaining how each weakness hindered the government (e.g., lack of taxation led to financial instability, lack of commerce control led to trade disputes, lack of executive made it difficult to enforce laws).
• Connection to the Constitution (2 points): 1 point for explaining that the weaknesses led to the Constitutional Convention and 1 point for mentioning the new Constitution addressed these issues by creating a stronger central government.

You've got this! Go get 'em! 💪