Q 01/05

Which British colony did the Articles of Confederation pre-approve to join the union whenever it chose?

A) Bermuda

B) Jamaica

C) Canada

D) Nova Scotia

Answer · why

C) Canada

Canada was promised automatic admission by Article XI, an open invitation to the British province of Quebec that was never taken up.

Q 02/05

Which last state to ratify the Articles of Confederation held out until rivals gave up western land claims?

A) Delaware

B) Georgia

C) South Carolina

D) Maryland

Answer · why

D) Maryland

Maryland gave in only in February 1781, after Virginia signalled it would cede its vast western territory to Congress. The other twelve states had all...

Q 03/05

Shays' Rebellion, the farmers' revolt that discredited the Articles of Confederation, erupted in which state?

A) Pennsylvania

B) Massachusetts

C) North Carolina

D) Connecticut

Answer · why

B) Massachusetts

Massachusetts courts were stripping indebted farmers of their land, so armed crowds led by war veteran Daniel Shays forced the courthouses to shut.

Q 04/05

Which two branches of government, both added by the Constitution, did the Articles of Confederation leave out?

A) Executive and judicial

B) Legislative and judicial

C) Executive and legislative

D) Judicial and military

Answer · why

A) Executive and judicial

Executive and judicial powers had no home of their own: there was no president to enforce the laws and no national courts to interpret them, only a on...

Q 05/05

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could only ask the states for funds because it lacked which power?

A) Declaring war

B) Making treaties

C) Sending ambassadors

D) Levying taxes

Answer · why

D) Levying taxes

Levying taxes stayed with the states, which were sent requests for their share and often failed to pay in full. The other three powers all belonged to...