Social Studies Praxis Practice Test

What was the most significant contribution of the Articles of Confederation government?

1. Providing an effective method for taxation of the states.

2. Passing the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

3. Establishing a precedent for land acquisition.

4. Developing a system of tariffs for national expenses.

The correct answer is: Passing the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

The most significant contribution of the Articles of Confederation government was the passage of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. This legislation is crucial because it established a systematic process for admitting new states into the Union from the Northwest Territory, which included present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota. The Northwest Ordinance set a precedent for how the United States would expand and organize its territories, ensuring a standardized method of governance and promoting orderly westward expansion. Additionally, the Northwest Ordinance incorporated essential principles such as the prohibition of slavery in the newly established states and the guarantee of rights for settlers, which were groundbreaking for the time. This provided a framework for future states' rights and governance, which shaped the political landscape of the nation. It also paved the way for the expansion of democracy by ensuring that new states could eventually achieve equal footing with the original thirteen states. While other contributions of the Articles, such as attempts at taxation or setting up tariffs, were notable, they were less successful or effective compared to the establishment of a clear path for statehood through the Northwest Ordinance.