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Difficulty: MediumThe Articles of Confederation and the Northwest Territory

"We are fast verging to anarchy and confusion! How melancholy is the reflection... that in so short a space we should have made such large strides towards fulfilling the predictions of our transatlantic foes, who foretold that all would be anarchy and confusion! ... What stronger evidence can be given of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders?"

—George Washington, letter to James Madison, November 5, 1786

Which of the following historical developments during the 1780s best illustrates the "want of energy" in the national government that Washington laments in the excerpt?

  1. The national government's inability to raise a federal army to suppress domestic insurrections such as Shays' RebellionAnswer
  2. B
    The federal government's decision to levy high excise taxes on western farmers, which triggered the Whiskey Rebellion
  3. C
    The bitter factional debates between Hamilton's Federalists and Jefferson's Democratic-Republicans over the establishment of a national bank
  4. D
    The widespread colonial protests against British imperial tax policies, such as the Stamp Act

Answer

The national government's inability to raise a federal army to suppress domestic insurrections such as Shays' Rebellion
The correct answer is the national government's inability to raise a federal army to suppress domestic insurrections such as Shays' Rebellion. Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress did not have the power to draft soldiers or enforce tax collection to fund a military force. When Shays' Rebellion broke out in 1786, the national government could not intervene directly to restore order, which highlighted the weakness of the central government and led to calls for constitutional reform.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context of the source.
George Washington is writing in November 1786, a period governed by the Articles of Confederation, characterized by a weak national legislature and lack of federal authority.
Identifying the time period and governing document helps narrow down the correct structural weaknesses and historical events.
2
Identify the specific 'disorders' and 'want of energy' mentioned in the text.
The 'disorders' refer to Shays' Rebellion, an uprising of indebted farmers in Massachusetts that began in the summer of 1786. The 'want of energy' refers to the national government's inability under the Articles of Confederation to raise revenue or command a national army to maintain domestic order.
Connecting the clues in Washington's letter to the immediate historical catalyst (Shays' Rebellion) clarifies what political weakness is being shown.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one matching the Articles of Confederation era.
The option concerning the inability to suppress Shays' Rebellion directly aligns with the 1780s time frame and the structural weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Eliminating options from the pre-revolutionary era (1760s) or constitutional era (1790s) ensures the correct historical event is selected.

Key Concept

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the impact of Shays' Rebellion

Hints

1
Consider the date of the letter (November 1786). What major domestic uprising was taking place in Massachusetts around this time that national leaders struggled to contain?

Practice More

Review the ways in which the Constitutional Convention of 1787 sought to correct the specific weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation mentioned by Washington, particularly regarding taxation and military authority.

Alternative Method

Students can eliminate incorrect options by utilizing a timeline: the Stamp Act belongs to the pre-revolutionary era (1760s), the Whiskey Rebellion and disputes over the national bank belong to the Federalist era (1790s), leaving only the Articles of Confederation era (1780s) event as the correct option.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

The Articles of Confederation and the Northwest Territory

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