Crafting American Governance

Worksheet Description

The worksheet discusses the early governmental structure of the United States under the Articles of Confederation. It describes how the Articles aimed to unite the independent colonies into a single nation, providing a framework for cooperation among the states while maintaining their individual sovereignty. The central legislative body, the Congress, was the primary force within this system, holding the power to make collective decisions, albeit with significant limitations on its authority. The document also points out that, due to these constraints, the Articles of Confederation were insufficient in several areas, including economic regulation and defense.

Through this worksheet, students are taught about the origins of American federal governance and the limitations of its first governing document, the Articles of Confederation. It is designed to illustrate the practical issues of a weak central government that lacked the power to enforce laws, regulate commerce, and collect taxes effectively. The lesson underscores the importance of having a central authority with adequate power to unify the states and manage the country’s collective needs. Additionally, the material serves as a foundation for understanding why the United States Constitution was created to form a more effective government system.