
Articles of Confederation – Timeline
Guiding Questions
- What challenges did the new nation face after gaining independence?
- How did the Articles of Confederation address these challenges?
Objectives
- Students will analyze the major challenges faced by the U.S. after independence.
- Students will evaluate how the Articles of Confederation attempted to address the challenges.
Student Resources:
- Timeline
Teacher Resources:
- A set of 10 index cards (or sticky notes) for the optional engage activity
- A worksheet with 5 simple math problems, vocabulary definitions, or historical matching questions for the optional engage activity
Engage
- Ask students to define the word “effective”
- If students struggle to begin, use the word in a sentence like “His speech was effective in persuading me to vote for him as class president.”
Optional Activity: Two small groups of 3-4 students compete to complete a task “most effectively.”
Efficiency Activity
- Assemble two small groups of 3-4 student volunteers.
- Give each group 5 index cards. Their task is to write the answers to the five questions (one per card) as quickly and accurately as possible.
- Rules:
- Every team member must contribute.
- Teams must decide on the best way to distribute the work (e.g., assign roles, divide problems, double-check answers).
- The first group to complete all five answers correctly wins.
- Debrief (1-2 min):
- Ask each the class:
- What strategies did you see?
- Did the groups prioritize speed, accuracy, or teamwork?
- Which group was most “effective”?
- Ask each the class:
Transition: Tell students “Today they will investigate the Articles of Confederation as it attempted to address the challenges facing the emerging nation. After we look at a few events you’ll be asked to rate if the Articles of Confederation was effective in governing the new nation based on what you view today.”
Explore
Timeline Exploration
- Access the timeline.
- Read the Treaty of Paris (1783) with students then ask, “How did this treaty benefit the U.S., and what challenges did it pose for a weak central government?”
- Next, read Shays’ Rebellion (1786) and ask, “Why couldn’t the national government effectively respond?”
- Finally, read the Northwest Ordinance (1787), and ask, “How did this show the Articles’ strengths in managing western lands?”
Group Work
Transition: Divide students into small groups.
- Have each group fill out a T-chart listing strengths and weaknesses of the Articles based on the three events on the timeline: Treaty of Paris, Shays’ Rebellion, and the Northwest Ordinance.
- Groups share their charts and create a class-wide T-chart on the board.
Assess & Reflect
- Ask students to make a thesis statement agreeing or disagreeing with the prompt “The Articles of Confederation were effective.”
- For more thesis resources, consider using:
- Unit 1 DBQ mini-lesson on Thesis
- Unit 1 DBQ graphic organizer for Thesis
- Unit 1 Video
- For more thesis resources, consider using:
Extend
- Complete the Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation lesson