Analyze the Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) and explain why they failed — no power to tax, no executive, no national court, unanimous-consent amendment, 9-of-13 supermajority for major laws, Shays's Rebellion 1786-87
Exercise Difficulty 2 ~5 min hist.g5.s.ex_03

Weakness Sort

Prompt

Sort 7 Articles weakness cards into 'fatal' vs. 'fixable' columns. Justify each in one sentence.

M-5-S-CIV-EX-03 Interactive Physical / non-image

7-card Articles weakness manipulative set with sortable columns: (1) no taxation; (2) no executive; (3) no national courts; (4) unanimous amendment; (5) 9-of-13 supermajority; (6) no commerce regulation; (7) state currency chaos. Two columns: FATAL / FIXABLE.

How it's presented
mode card sort with justification
Answer criteria
type sorted with rationale
required
7 cards sorted1-sentence rationale per card
Hints
  1. Consider which weaknesses combined to produce Shays's Rebellion
  2. Some weaknesses could have been amended individually but the unanimous-consent amendment process blocked that
Misconceptions to watch
  • Sorting without rationale
  • Confusing Articles weaknesses with later Constitution features
Used in lessons