Economic and government The Confederation Period 1781-1789: Who Will Be In Charge?
1. What was the biggest question facing the Americans after they won independence in the
Revolutionary War?

2. What was the one thing for sure after the Americans won their independence from Britain?

3.What were the 2 things the freedom-loving Americans were trying to balance in the new
government they created?
a.
b

4. Under the Articles of Confederation what did the states keep?

5. Define "Confederation?:

6.What were the states "sort of like" under the Articles of Confederation?

The Shifting Balance of Political Power: An Overview

7. During the Colonial Period from 1607 to 1776, who had the most power in the American colonies?

8. During the Confederation Period from 1781 to 1788, who the most power?

9. After 1788 in the new American Republic, who had the most power? How was it different from
the previous two situations?

The Confederation Period: 13 Sovereign States, 1781-1789

10. Why wouldn't you have recognized the Confederation government? What was missing?

11. Describe how the states were represented in the one-house Congress under the Articles of
Confederation?

12. What was required for Congress to pass laws under the Articles of Confederation? Amendments?

13. How many powers did Congress have under the Articles of Confederation? What 2 big powers
was it missing?

14. What does it mean to say that each state "controlled its own purse strings"?

15. What 3 features were shared by every state constitution except for Rhode Island and
Connecticut?
A.
B.
C.
16. What were the only two states to have a unicameral legislature?

17. What were the 2 important laws passed by the Confederation Congress?
A.
B
.
18. What did the two important Confederation laws state?

19. What present-day states (5) made up the Northwest Territory in 1785?

20. How did the Land Ordinance of 1785 divide up the land of the Northwest Territory?

21. What was the priceless gift of the Land Ordinance of 1785?

22. What did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 forbid? What did it allow?

23. Under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, how would the federal government assist all subsequent
territories?

24. According to the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, at what point would a territory be allowed to
draft a state constitution and apply for statehood?

25. What was so rare about the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?