1. Complete the following columns on the “Articles of Confederation” Article Review: Knowledge Rating Chart:
Review words in first column
Using the scale at the top of the page (1-4) complete the Rating Before Reading column indicating any prior knowledge you have of the word
Complete the What I Think It Means column with your best guess at a definition for each word
*Please DO NOT turn this rating chart in until the conclusion of the close reading activity tomorrow!

2. 4 = I know this so well I could teach it to my classmates.
Articles of Confederation Close Reading: Knowledge Rating Chart: Indicate your understanding of each term using the following scale.
4 = I know this so well I could teach it to my classmates.
3 = I know it well enough to understand it in context but need a little review.
2 = I have seen / heard it before but I’m not 100% sure of its meaning
1 = I do not know this word .
WORD
RATING BEFORE
RATING AFTER
WHAT I THINK IT MEANS
ADDITIONAL INFORMAITON ABOUT THE WORD
MEANING OF THE WORD
SOVEREIGN
FEDERATION
LEVY
PROVISIONS
RATIFICATION
ARBITRATE

3. Do Now: Analyze the 2 pictures.
What do you notice about each?
What do they have in common?
What conclusions can you draw about the subjects of each?

4. Articles of Confederation
Vocabulary:
sovereign = self-ruling, independent
levy = to make or place upon
ratification = to adopt or approve
federation = uniting as a country
provisions = details, specific key points
arbitrate = judge over a disagreement

5. First Read: What is the central idea of the article?
Listen and follow along with the article being read, and be ready to answer the following questions afterward:
What is the central idea of the article?

6. Second Read:
Read paragraphs 2-3 on your own and complete the following:
According to the text, how did the colonists’ fear of Great Britain affect the Articles of Confederation?

7. Discussion:
The author notes in the article that “the Articles deliberately established a confederation of sovereign states, carefully specifying the limited functions of the federal government.” Why were they so careful with establishing the powers of the federal government?

8. Third Read: Read paragraph 4 on your own and complete the following:
According to the article, what was a concern of small states?
According to the article, what was a concern of large states?

9. Discussion:
The author notes that “…small (populated) states wanted equal representation with the large (populated) states…” 1. Is equal representation, regardless of population, fair to all states?

10. Fourth Read: Read paragraphs 9-10 and complete the following:
According to the article, how was the government set up?
2. According to the article, what were the provisions of the
Articles of Confederation?

11. Discussion:
What differences do you notice between the Articles of Confederation government and today’s government?

12. Fifth Read: Read paragraph 11 on your own and complete the following:
According to the article, how did the Articles keep national government from governing effectively?

13. Discussion:
How did the weakness in the Articles lead to it’s failure?

14. Summary:
Choose one weakness of the AofC government and revise it to make it a strength for the national government.
inability to regulate trade
could not levy taxes
could not pass laws without votes of 9 of 13 states
could not force states to do anything without their consent
Please be sure you use 2-3 of the vocabulary terms in your summary.