Module 4: The American Republic
5.1 Picturing History
Use the dropdown menus to complete the paragraph.
The Articles of Confederation served as
... [Show More] the foundation for the U.S. Constitution, which expanded the role of the federal government. Among the structures altered under the Constitution was the formal pronouncement that the chief executive would be called the. The legislative branch of government, Congress, was redesigned to be. This structure, along with the executive and judicial branches, created a system of checks and balances between the three. Further changes were made to how amendments would be handled; a vote from of the states’ legislatures would be necessary to ratify amendments to the Constitution.
Use the dropdown menus to complete the paragraph.
The Articles of Confederation served as the foundation for the U.S. Constitution. The new Constitution altered the structures of government. A new body called the was established to adjudicate disputes between states. This power was previously held by. This structure created a system of checks and balances between the three branches of federal government. Further changes included expanding the power of Congress to.
5.6 Challenges of Confederation
Imagine that you and your family are living in rural Virginia in 1785. The nation is currently governed under the Articles of Confederation. You’re discussing the state of the economy and the nation with your husband, William. Fill in the blanks to complete the conversation.
WILLIAM: I must say, it is good to be a farmer in these uncertain economic times. We may not live in one of the big cities like Richmond, but at least we, unlike those city folk.
YOU: Yes, but our family is growing fast, and there isn’t much available land around here for our children to own once they reach adulthood. I think we should consider moving to the new territories that have opened up in the.
WILLIAM: I have considered that, but Congress has set such a high price for plots of land for settlers: almost $1 an acre. It is frustrating, since Congress has been selling land to for just a few cents per acre.
YOU: I heard that some families are planning to move to the new territories without buying land from the government. They will either become squatters on unoccupied land or purchase land from .
WILLIAM: That’s an interesting idea. And with Congress unable to raise enough money to support the army, there wouldn’t be much the government could do to stop us.
YOU: I’ve had it with Congress. It has been three years since the signing of the Treaty of Paris, and we still haven’t seen the money that we’re owed! I haven’t received any money from my military pension. I was also promised, yet here I sit, without that either. [Show Less]
