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U.S. Government Review

7th Grade Social Studies

Vocab FlashcardsHistorical TimelineBranches of GovernmentPreamble & Bill of RightsReview Quiz
📜Articles of Confederation

Why the Articles FAILED

The Articles gave too little power to the national government. Here are the biggest problems:

💰
No Power to Tax
Congress could ask states for money, but couldn't make them pay. The government was always broke!
💵
No National Currency
Every state had its own money. Imagine needing different cash every time you crossed a state line!
🚢
No Trade Control
States could tax each other's goods. States had trade wars with each other!
👤
No President
No executive branch. Nobody to enforce whatever laws did get passed.
⚖️
No National Courts
No federal judges to settle disputes between states. States handled everything themselves.
🗳️
Hard to Pass Laws
Needed 9 of 13 states to agree on ANYTHING. Nearly impossible to get anything done.
🔧
Impossible to Change
ALL 13 states had to agree to change the Articles. One state could block everything!
⚔️The Big Debate

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

💪
Federalists
SUPPORT the Constitution
  • Wanted a strong national government
  • Articles of Confederation were too weak
  • Checks & balances prevent tyranny
  • A strong government protects the country
Key People:
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
What they did:
Wrote the Federalist Papers — essays defending the Constitution
🛡️
Anti-Federalists
OPPOSE the Constitution
  • Feared a strong central government = tyranny
  • Believed states should keep more power
  • The Constitution had NO list of rights
  • Government would be too far from the people
Key People:
Patrick Henry, George Mason, Samuel Adams
What they did:
Demanded a Bill of Rights be added before supporting the Constitution
📅History

Timeline: From Articles to Constitution

Tap any event to learn more!