Articles of Confederation excerpts:
Article V.
...No state shall be represented in Congress by less than two [members], nor by no more than seven members;......In determining questions in the United States, in Congress assembled, each state shall have one vote....
Article VIII.
...All charges of war, and all other expenses that shall be incurred for the common defense or general welfare and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states,......The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the several states within the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress assembled....
Article IX.
The United States in Congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant letters of marque and reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, nor ascertain the sums and expenses necessary for the defense and welfare of the United States, or [of] any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the United States,......unless nine states assent to the same; nor shall a question on any other point, except for adjourning from day to day, be determined unless by the votes of a majority of the United States in Congress assembled....
Remember that the term "articles" means parts or provisions of a document. Answer the following questions using the excerpts of the Articles of Confederation. The answer can be found in the article listed for each question.
1. Article V
a. How many delegates to Congress could each state have? b. How many votes did each state have? 2. Article VIII
a. Where would Congress get money to run the country? b. How would this be enforced? 3. Article IX
a. What were the powers of Congress that were limited in this excerpt of Article IX? b. What was necessary for Congress to pass legislation? Find a map, and information about the Northwest Ordinance in chapter 8 of your textbook.Use your textbook or other resources including the Articles of Confederation to answer the following questions.
4. Discuss three lasting achievements of the federal government under the Articles.
5. Throughout history, territory was usually added to a nation by conquest and treated as conquered land. Explain how the provisions of both the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Land Ordinance of 1787 (Northwest Ordinance) together provided the means for territory to be added as equal states to the new nation. Refer to a map showing the Northwest Territory to get a visual image for preparing your answer.
6. Make a list of at least four problems the national government experienced under the Articles of Confederation. For each tell why the national government had difficulty in conducting business.
When finished with assignment, watch the following film about the early years of the United States under the Articles of Confederation.
