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Difficulty: EasyThe Articles of Confederation and the Northwest Territory

“Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.”
—Articles of Confederation, Article II, written 1777, ratified 1781

Based on the excerpt, which of the following describes the primary political concern of the authors of the Articles of Confederation?

  1. A
    Establishing a strong executive branch to manage national crises.
  2. B
    Resolving political disputes between Hamiltonians and Jeffersonians over economic policy.
  3. Preventing the rise of a centralized government with excessive authority.Answer
  4. D
    Developing a uniform system of national taxation to fund domestic projects.

Answer

Preventing the rise of a centralized government with excessive authority.
The correct answer is correct because the excerpt explicitly states that each state retains its sovereignty and independence. This reflects the framers' goal to prevent the creation of a powerful central government, a fear stemming from their experiences under British rule.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided historical excerpt from Article II of the Articles of Confederation.
The excerpt emphasizes that 'each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence' and holds all powers not 'expressly delegated' to the national Congress.
To understand the text's core theme before looking at the choices.
2
Connect the text's emphasis on state sovereignty to the historical motivations of the authors during the American Revolution.
The authors drafted the Articles during a war against a centralized British monarchy. They feared creating another powerful national government that could infringe on their liberty.
To identify the political goals and concerns of the founders at the time of drafting.
3
Evaluate the options to find the one that aligns with preventing a strong central government.
The option regarding preventing the rise of a centralized government with excessive authority matches this concern, while the other choices represent powers or debates from later periods.
To select the correct historical interpretation.

Key Concept

The decentralization of power under the Articles of Confederation
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

The Articles of Confederation and the Northwest Territory

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