Strengths & Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Teacher Guide
In this activity, students will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the government
formed under the Articles of Confederation.
Materials/Preparation
● Strengths and Weakness of the Articles of Confederation - Teacher Statement
Sheet (1 copy for teacher)
● Strengths and Weakness of the Articles of Confederation - Teacher Answer Key
(1 copy for teacher)
● “Strength” and “Weakness” cards (1 sheet per student)
● Thick popsicle sticks or wooden rulers
● Scotch tape, glue sticks, or a stapler
Suggested Procedures
1. To prepare for the activity, print and make copies of the “Strength” and
“Weakness” cards (1 sheet per student). Students should cut along the solid
black lines and fold along the dotted line. Use a popsicle stick or ruler to create a
handle for the sign, and secure it with Scotch tape, glue, or staples.
○ If you prefer to save paper, simply have your students use their own hands
to indicate “strength” (thumbs-up) and “weakness” (thumbs-down).
Alternatively, you can post signs with the words “Strength” and
“Weakness” on opposite ends of the room.
2. Read each of the statements from the Strengths and Weakness of the Articles of
Confederation sheet aloud, one-by-one. Have students use their “Strength” and
“Weakness” signs to evaluate whether each statement represents a strength or a
weakness of the government formed under the Articles of Confederation.
3. For each statement, call on a student volunteer to explain his or her thinking. If a
statement receives both “strength” and “weakness” votes, have two students of
opposing viewpoints explain their thinking.
The U.S. Constitution
Strengths & Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Teacher Statement Sheet
Read each statement below one-at-a-time. Begin each statement with the phrase,
“Under the Articles of Confederation…”
Under the Articles of Confederation…
1
...the Department of Treasury, the Department of Postal Service, and the
Department of Foreign Affairs were established.
2
...states could print their own money.
3
...the first organized territory in the West was created (consisting of land beyond
the Appalachian Mountains and between the Great Lakes and the Ohio River).
4
...there was no national executive or judiciary branch.
5
...Congress was the highest power in the nation.
6
...there was no national army or navy.
7
...each state was able to make its own trade agreements, including imposing
trade taxes on other states.
8
...Congress had the sole power to deal with foreign relations and sign treaties.
9
...any changes to the Articles required a unanimous vote of all states.
10
...Congress had the power to manage Native American affairs.
11
...states were sovereign, and disputes between states had to be settled between
the states themselves.
12
...Congress had the sole power to declare war.
13
...the national government did not have the power to tax; all revenue came from
the states.
14
...settlers could purchase a title to farmland in the undeveloped west (known as
the Land Ordinance of 1785).
The U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution
Strengths & Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Teacher Answer Key
Read each statement below one-at-a-time. Begin each statement with the phrase,
“Under the Articles of Confederation…”
Under the Articles of Confederation…
1
...the Department of Treasury, the Department of Postal Service, and the
Department of Foreign Affairs were established.
STRENGTH: The Department of Treasury, the Department of Postal Service, and the Department
of Foreign Affairs were all important departments that served critical roles in a new nation
(established a postal service, admiralty courts, and coin money).
2
...states could print their own money.
WEAKNESS: State-specific currencies were worthless in other states. Having different currencies
only made it more difficult for the states to cooperate with one another.
3
...the first organized territory in the West (The Northwest Territory) was created,
consisting of land beyond the Appalachian Mountains and between the Great
Lakes and the Ohio River.
STRENGTH: The new nation was able to expand further West across the continent with the
formation of the Northwest Territory. (Note: While this was viewed as a governmental strength of
theArticles of Confederation, it also could be viewed as a weakness in that westward expansion
caused the unjust displacement of Native American tribes.)
4
...there was no national executive or judicial branch.
WEAKNESS: The states maintained all rights that were not specifically given to Congress.
Without an executive branch, it was impossible to enforce any acts passed by Congress. Laws
were inconsistently enforced by different states. Without a judicial branch, there was no way to
settle disputes among the states.
5
...Congress was the highest power in the nation.
STRENGTH: The U.S. made Congress the highest power out of fear of monarchy. This ensured it
was the people (and the representatives they elected) who made decisions for the nation.
6
...there was no national army or navy.
WEAKNESS: The new nation had no way of protecting itself without an army or navy.
The U.S. Constitution
7
...each state was able to make its own trade agreements, including imposing
trade taxes on other states.
WEAKNESS: Since Congress did not have the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce,
it was difficult for states to trade with other nations.
8
...Congress had the power to deal with foreign relations and sign treaties.
STRENGTH: It was important for Congress be able to manage foreign relations and sign peace
treaties in order to maintain the new nation’s independence.
9
...any changes to the Articles required a unanimous vote of all states.
WEAKNESS: It was extremely difficult to make changes to the government structure since a
unanimous vote was next to impossible.
10
...Congress had the power to manage Native American affairs.
STRENGTH: It was important for Congress to regulate the relationships with Native Americans,
especially in the territories in which the country was expanding. (**Note: While this was viewed as
a strength of the Articles of Confederation, it also could be viewed as a weakness in it sparked
confrontation with Native American tribes.)
11
...states were sovereign, and disputes between states had to be settled between
the states themselves.
WEAKNESS: The nation was formed as a confederation where states were sovereign, or
completely independent of one another. This made it difficult for the nation to function as one.
12
...Congress had the sole power to declare war.
STRENGTH: Congress (not the states themselves) were in charge of determining when war was
necessary.
13
...the national government did not have the power to tax; all revenue came from
the states.
WEAKNESS: Since the government could not tax, the country was constantly short on money. It
was nearly impossible for it to reply its war debts.
14
...settlers could purchase a title to farmland in the undeveloped west (known as
the Land Ordinance of 1785).
STRENGTH: The Articles of Confederation made it possible for the U.S. to gain control of the
West and expand into a thriving nation.
The U.S. Constitution
