Question

Which answer best summarizes the state's responsibilities to the national government under the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 1

Answer:

States provided money in the form of taxes, sent representatives to Congress, and had to supply soldiers during war.

Explanation:

The Articles gave support to the Continental Army and allowed the thirteen States to form a union front before European powers. However, as a tool to build an effective government in times of war, it was a failure. Congress could make decisions, but it did not have the power to implement them. Perhaps, the biggest setback was the unanimous approval requirement of the 13 States to modify the articles. At the same time, the most important power that Congress lacked was the power to collect taxes: it could only request money from the States. These, on the other hand, did not always comply with the demands and Congress did not have the necessary funds for its operation. States and Congress had borrowed during the war, and payment of debts was a matter of national importance.

However, the Confederation Congress took two very important actions. The Earth Ordinance of 1785 established the provisions of the land that would be used during the subsequent expansion of the country. The Ordinance of 1787 (Northwest Ordinance) formalized the resignation of the thirteen original states of the western lands and, at the same time, allowed the entry of new states into the confederation.

As soon as the unit that demanded the War of Independence became unnecessary, the Continental Army was dissolved, although a very small force was preserved to protect the forts and defend the States from the attacks of the Amerindians. However, each state had its own army and 11 of the 13 states had an army. The promises of wealth and land grant that would be made during the war were not fulfilled. In 1783, George Washington appeased the Newburgh conspiracy, but riots by Pennsylvania veterans who had not received their payments forced Congress to leave Philadelphia on June 21.