7.4a - Historical Development of the Constitution: - Practices A through E

Congress depended on states and could not easily raise money without them.

Congress could veto any state law it disagreed with.

Congress appointed a president who could enforce laws in every state.

Congress controlled all elections for state governments.

The document says states “retain sovereignty, freedom, and independence.”

The document says Congress “creates state governments when needed.”

The document says Congress “sets local taxes for each state.”

The document says the national government “controls state courts.”

Several states refuse to contribute money to pay national debts after a war.

A state decides to hold local elections for its legislature.

A town changes the location of its courthouse.

A state writes a new constitution that creates two legislative chambers.

The final state ratified the Articles.

Congress drafted and approved the Articles.

The first state ratified the Articles.

Independence was declared.

State ratification was necessary before the new plan could take effect.

The Articles were enforced before any states agreed to them.

Congress delayed writing the Articles until after they took effect.

Independence ended arguments among states over resources.

Reaching full agreement took years because states had different interests.

The states quickly gave up sovereignty after independence.

Congress forced all states to ratify in the same year.

Most states refused to participate in any national government.

States controlled most internal affairs, while Congress handled a few national tasks.

Congress ran state courts, while states negotiated treaties with other countries.

States could declare war, while Congress managed local taxes in each state.

Congress appointed state governors, while states controlled the western lands.

Many Americans feared centralized power after breaking from British rule.

Most Americans wanted to return to a monarchy with a powerful king.

The states had already agreed to let Congress tax individuals directly.

The colonies had been fully independent from Britain for several centuries.

Paying national debts by collecting money requested from the states

Holding town meetings to decide local road repairs

Appointing judges to state courts

Setting sales taxes inside each state

Several coastal states claimed land extending far to the west, while some smaller states did not.

Most states had identical borders and made the same western claims.

Only states in the far South had any interest in western lands.

Western land claims were limited to states that bordered the Pacific Ocean.

Whether western lands should be controlled by individual states or treated as national territory

Whether each state should choose the location of its own capital city

Whether Congress should appoint governors for every state government

Whether states should end local elections during wartime

States had competing economic and political interests that could slow agreement on national decisions.

All states were willing to give up land claims immediately to strengthen Congress.

Geography did not matter because Congress controlled state borders under the Articles.

Only foreign countries, not states, influenced land policy after independence.

Congress could not depend on consistent payments because states controlled whether and when to pay.

Congress collected taxes directly from individuals in every state.

Congress set identical payment amounts for every state regardless of population.

Congress paid all national debts quickly because states always paid in full on time.

Some states paid only part of what was requested or paid late.

Congress printed a national currency that every state was required to accept.

Congress appointed state treasurers to manage local budgets.

Congress forced states to ban trade with their neighbors.

Paying national war debts on time when several states refuse to contribute

A state deciding how to fund its own local schools

A town collecting fees to repair a bridge

A state setting rules for elections to its legislature