Articles of Confederation Practice Exam

Welcome to this practice test on “The Articles of Confederation” for AP American History.

This test is designed to help you assess your understanding of one of the foundational documents in United States history. The Articles of Confederation played a crucial role in the early governance of the U.S. and set the stage for the creation of the Constitution. As you take this test, consider the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles and how they influenced the future development of the United States government.

Good luck, and may this test be a valuable tool in your studies!

Practice Test: The Articles of Confederation

1. What year were the Articles of Confederation ratified?
A. 1776
B. 1777
C. 1781
D. 1783

2. The Articles of Confederation established the United States as:
A. A unitary state
B. A federal republic
C. A confederation of sovereign states
D. A monarchy

3. Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress had the power to:
A. Levy taxes
B. Regulate interstate commerce
C. Declare war
D. All of the above

4. One significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation was:
A. The strong executive branch
B. Lack of a national judiciary
C. Too much power given to the states
D. Over-centralization of government

5. The Land Ordinance of 1785, which established a system for surveying and selling western lands, was created under:
A. The U.S. Constitution
B. The Articles of Confederation
C. The Declaration of Independence
D. The Northwest Ordinance

6. What was the main purpose of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?
A. To declare war on Great Britain
B. To establish guidelines for statehood
C. To abolish slavery
D. To centralize government power

7. How many states were needed to pass new laws under the Articles of Confederation?
A. 7
B. 9
C. 13
D. 5

8. Which of the following was a success of the Articles of Confederation?
A. Strong national defense
B. Effective tax system
C. Diplomatic achievements
D. Strong central government

9. The Articles of Confederation gave the most government power to:
A. The President
B. The Supreme Court
C. The individual states
D. The national Congress

10. Which event highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and led to calls for a stronger federal government?
A. Boston Tea Party
B. Shays’ Rebellion
C. Whiskey Rebellion
D. The Battle of Saratoga

11. Which branch of government was missing under the Articles of Confederation?
A. Legislative
B. Executive
C. Judicial
D. All of the above

12. How many branches of government did the Articles of Confederation create?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. None

13. Under the Articles, each state’s power in Congress was based on:
A. Population
B. Land area
C. One vote per state
D. Economic contribution

14. The Articles of Confederation were first proposed at the:
A. Second Continental Congress
B. Constitutional Convention
C. Philadelphia Convention
D. First Continental Congress

15. The Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent for:
A. Electing a president
B. Declaring war
C. Amending the Articles
D. Establishing treaties

16. Which of the following was a power NOT granted to Congress under the Articles?
A. Coin money
B. Raise an army
C. Impose taxes
D. Make treaties

17. Which state was the last to ratify the Articles of Confederation?
A. Virginia
B. Delaware
C. Maryland
D. Rhode Island

18. The Articles of Confederation allowed the federal government to:
A. Enforce state laws
B. Override state decisions
C. Manage foreign affairs
D. Regulate trade between states

19. The president under the Articles of Confederation was:
A. The head of state
B. The head of government
C. A ceremonial figure
D. Non-existent

20. Which issue did the Articles of Confederation NOT address that was later solved by the Constitution?
A. Representation in Congress
B. Election of the President
C. Judicial power
D. All of the above

21. The Articles of Confederation can be best described as a:
A. Blueprint for a strong central government
B. Series of guidelines for state cooperation
C. Strict governing document
D. Loose association of independent states

22. The Articles of Confederation were replaced by the U.S. Constitution in what year?
A. 1776
B. 1781
C. 1787
D. 1789

23. Under the Articles of Confederation, who had the final authority in matters of dispute?
A. The President

B. The Supreme Court
C. Congress
D. State governments

24. How were decisions made in Congress under the Articles of Confederation?
A. Majority vote of all members
B. Unanimous consent
C. Majority vote by states
D. Electoral college

25. The Articles of Confederation were primarily focused on:
A. Strengthening the central government
B. Balancing power between states and federal government
C. Limiting the powers of the central government
D. Establishing a strong judiciary

Answer Key

  1. C. 1781
  2. C. A confederation of sovereign states
  3. C. Declare war
  4. B. Lack of a national judiciary
  5. B. The Articles of Confederation
  6. B. To establish guidelines for statehood
  7. B. 9
  8. C. Diplomatic achievements
  9. C. The individual states
  10. B. Shays’ Rebellion
  11. B. Executive
  12. A. One
  13. C. One vote per state
  14. A. Second Continental Congress
  15. C. Amending the Articles
  16. C. Impose taxes
  17. C. Maryland
  18. C. Manage foreign affairs
  19. D. Non-existent
  20. D. All of the above
  21. D. Loose association of independent states
  22. D. 1789
  23. D. State governments
  24. C. Majority vote by states
  25. C. Limiting the powers of the central government

Prior to taking your in-class exam be sure to study Lesson 5 – The Articles of Confederation.