All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What key feature did the Articles lack regarding law enforcement?
Answer: No executive to enforce laws. Congress could not compel obedience to its laws.
Flashcard 2: What power did states retain under the Articles?
Answer: Control over their own militias. States maintained independent military forces and authority.
Flashcard 3: Identify a financial limitation of the Confederation Congress.
Answer: Could not issue a stable national currency. Multiple state currencies created economic chaos and instability.
Flashcard 4: What was a key feature of the Articles regarding amendments?
Answer: Required unanimous consent. High threshold prevented necessary reforms and improvements.
Flashcard 5: How did the Articles of Confederation influence federalism?
Answer: Emphasized state sovereignty over federal power. Prioritized state independence over national unity.
Flashcard 6: Which state's refusal delayed ratification of the Articles?
Answer: Maryland, due to land claim disputes. Held out until western lands were ceded to Congress.
Flashcard 7: What was an issue caused by the Articles' lack of executive power?
Answer: Ineffective national leadership. No chief executive to coordinate policy or command respect.
Flashcard 8: What was the impact of the Articles on military defense?
Answer: Inability to coordinate a national defense. Could not maintain unified military force against threats.
Flashcard 9: How did the Articles handle national economic policy?
Answer: Left economic policy largely to the states. Federal government lacked tools for economic management.
Flashcard 10: What was the primary purpose of the Articles of Confederation?
Answer: To establish a framework for the new national government. First governing document after independence from Britain.
Flashcard 11: Identify the legislative body created by the Articles of Confederation.
Answer: The Confederation Congress. Unicameral legislature with representatives from each state.
Flashcard 12: How many votes did each state have under the Articles of Confederation?
Answer: One vote per state. Equal representation regardless of state size or population.
Flashcard 13: What was required to amend the Articles of Confederation?
Answer: Unanimous consent from all 13 states. Made amendments nearly impossible to achieve in practice.
Flashcard 14: What power did the national government lack under the Articles?
Answer: The power to levy taxes. Had to rely on voluntary state contributions for revenue.
Flashcard 15: Identify a key economic weakness of the Articles of Confederation.
Answer: Inability to regulate interstate commerce. Led to trade wars and economic conflicts between states.
Flashcard 16: What military power was missing under the Articles of Confederation?
Answer: The power to maintain a standing army. Left national defense vulnerable and uncoordinated.
Flashcard 17: Which branch of government was missing under the Articles?
Answer: The executive branch. No single leader to enforce laws or coordinate policy.
Flashcard 18: What judicial authority was absent under the Articles?
Answer: A national judiciary. No federal courts to resolve disputes or interpret law.
Flashcard 19: What was the impact of the Articles on state sovereignty?
Answer: States retained most of their sovereignty. Created a loose confederation rather than strong union.
Flashcard 20: How did the Articles of Confederation address disputes between states?
Answer: Confederation Congress acted as mediator. Limited authority to resolve interstate conflicts effectively.
Flashcard 21: What was one success of the Articles of Confederation?
Answer: The Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Established governance for western territories and statehood.
Flashcard 22: Which economic challenge did the Articles fail to address?
Answer: National debt and inflation. Lacked revenue-raising power to address financial problems.
Flashcard 23: How did the Articles affect foreign relations?
Answer: Weak central government limited effectiveness. Could not enforce treaties or project power internationally.
Flashcard 24: Identify an economic policy weakness under the Articles.
Answer: States could impose tariffs on each other. Created trade barriers and economic warfare between states.
Flashcard 25: What was the effect of state currencies under the Articles?
Answer: Created economic instability and confusion. Different currencies hindered interstate trade and commerce.
Flashcard 26: How did the Articles affect interstate relations?
Answer: Lack of central regulation led to conflicts. No federal authority to mediate or resolve disputes.
Flashcard 27: What was a consequence of the Articles' weaknesses?
Answer: Inability to effectively respond to crises. Government too weak to handle emergencies or rebellions.
Flashcard 28: Identify a structural issue of the Articles of Confederation.
Answer: Single legislative body with limited powers. Lacked separation of powers and checks and balances.
Flashcard 29: What power did the national government lack under the Articles?
Answer: The power to levy taxes. Had to rely on voluntary state contributions for revenue.
Flashcard 30: How did the Articles of Confederation influence federalism?
Answer: Emphasized state sovereignty over federal power. Prioritized state independence over national unity.