AP U.S. Government and Politics Flashcards: Challenges of the Articles of Confederation
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What was a key weakness of the Articles of Confederation related to the enforcement of laws?
A key weakness was the lack of an executive branch, which meant there was no mechanism to enforce laws passed by Congress, including the collection of taxes.
Card 1 of 10
All Flashcards (10)
What was a key weakness of the Articles of Confederation related to the enforcement of laws?
A key weakness was the lack of an executive branch, which meant there was no mechanism to enforce laws passed by Congress, including the collection of taxes.
Why would the framers of the Articles intentionally create a government that couldn't effectively stop a rebellion?
Having just fought a war against what they saw as a tyrannical central government (Britain), the framers prioritized state sovereignty and feared creating a powerful federal military.
What was the primary problem with the power to coin money under the Articles of Confederation?
The federal government did not have the exclusive power to coin money; states could also issue their own currency, leading to widespread inflation and economic confusion.
What power concerning interstate commerce did the federal government lack under the Articles?
The federal government lacked the power to regulate interstate commerce, which often resulted in trade disputes and economic conflicts between the states.
How did the lack of an executive branch affect the federal government's ability to fund itself?
Without an executive branch to enforce laws, the federal government could request taxes from states but had no power to compel them to pay, leading to a constant lack of funds.
Which specific incident exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation due to its lack of a centralized military?
Shays' Rebellion highlighted the lack of centralized military power, as the federal government was unable to effectively respond to the armed uprising in Massachusetts.
Key Provisions of the Articles of Confederation
Key provisions included a weak central government with no executive or judicial branches, no power to tax or regulate commerce, and no exclusive power to coin money.
How did the Articles of Confederation handle the judicial system at the national level?
The Articles failed to establish a national court system, leaving no federal judiciary to settle legal disputes that arose between the states.
If Virginia and Maryland had a trade dispute over the Potomac River under the Articles, why was it so difficult to resolve?
It was difficult to resolve because the federal government lacked both a national court system to adjudicate the dispute and the power to regulate interstate commerce.
What was the central debate regarding federal power when drafting the Articles of Confederation?
The central debate was over how much power to grant the federal government versus the power that should be reserved for the states, with the Articles heavily favoring states' rights.