Question

19.after the revolutionary war, the national government owed $40 million to
a.foreign countries and american soldiers who had yet to be fully paid.
b.individual state legislatures and their leaders.
c.native american tribes from the west.
d.american taxpayers.
20.why was the national debt a serious problem for the new nation?
a.the amount of money was very small.
b.individual states did not feel responsible for a
ational\ debt.
c.national leaders were not interested in solving the problem.
d.the nation had money but no means to distribute it.
.21.shayss rebellion made it clear that
a.creditors would forgive the debts of farmers.
b.democracy had taken root in the new nation.
c.the national government was too weak.
d.states could handle small uprisings.
22.the group revising the articles of confederation eventually decided to
a.give more power to the states.
b.ask the british parliament for advice about how to organize the government.
c.create a new branch of government to deal with debts.
d.write a new constitution
23.the delegates at the constitutional convention unanimously chose george washington to
a.write the first draft of the constitution.
b.be the countrys first president.
c.preside over the convention.
d.make all final decisions regarding the new constitution.

Explanation:

1. After the Revolutionary War, the national government owed money to foreign countries (like France which had supported the colonies) and to American soldiers who had not been fully paid for their service.
2. The national debt was a serious problem because under the Articles of Confederation, the national government had no power to tax (so no means to raise revenue to pay the debt), while the states had power but there was no coordinated way to distribute the burden of paying the debt.
3. Shays' Rebellion (an armed uprising by farmers in Massachusetts) showed that the national government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak to put down such unrest (as the national government couldn't raise an army easily; the state had to deal with it in a limited way).
4. The group revising the Articles of Confederation (which was a difficult task due to the weaknesses of the Articles) eventually realized that a new approach was needed and decided to write a new constitution (the U.S. Constitution) instead of just amending the Articles.
5. At the Constitutional Convention, George Washington was unanimously chosen to preside over the convention. His prestige and leadership qualities made him a natural choice to guide the proceedings.

Answer:

1. A. foreign countries and American soldiers who had yet to be fully paid.
2. D. The nation had money but no means to distribute it.
3. C. the national government was too weak.
4. D. write a new constitution.
5. C. preside over the convention.