Worked examples
Two examples
Example 1
Make a treaty with France.Under the Articles of Confederation, could Congress do this?
- Picture the two lists in Chapter 2: what Congress could do, and what it could not.
- On the “could” list: declare war and make peace, make treaties and send ambassadors, borrow and coin money, run a post office, deal with Native American nations.
- So yes. One catch: a treaty was a big decision, so it needed the votes of nine of the thirteen states.
Answer: Yes, Congress could do this
Example 2
Collect a tax from a farmer in Massachusetts.Under the Articles of Confederation, could Congress do this?
- On the “could not” list: collect taxes from the people, control trade, stop the states from printing money, draft soldiers, force a state to obey.
- Congress could only send each state a request for money. The state legislature decided on the tax and collected it (Article VIII).
- So no. Congress taxed no one.
Answer: No, Congress could not do this
Where this is taught: Civics, Chapter 2: What the Articles set up · Civics, Chapter 2: Trouble · Civics Diagnostic, Part 2
In your Kaplan book: Unit 3, Chapter 3, Lesson 1: Historic Basis for U.S. System · Map of the Terrain, topic 14: Founding documents II: Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, the Federalist debate
The drill
Ten questions
How many:
Tap your answer to each one. A few questions ask you to choose words from a drop-down instead, the way the GED test does. Then press Check my answers at the bottom.Circle your answer to each one; where there are brackets, circle the choice that fits. The answer key, with the reasoning, is on the last page.