The Continental Congress most important action in the first constitution was the creation of
A. currency.
B. the Continental Army
C. a unicameral government.
D. the Articles of Confederation.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is D. the Articles of Confederation.
The Continental Congress’s most important action in creating the first constitution was the adoption of the Articles of Confederation in 1781. This document served as the first constitution of the United States and established a government that operated during and after the Revolutionary War. While it did create a loose union of the states, it was not a strong central government, which later proved problematic.
Explanation:
After declaring independence in 1776, the colonies needed a system of governance to coordinate their efforts in the war and establish an orderly union once they achieved independence. The Continental Congress recognized the need for a framework that would bind the states together, and they developed the Articles of Confederation, which were ratified by all thirteen states by 1781.
The Articles created a confederation, where the states retained most of their power and sovereignty, and the central government had limited authority. It created a unicameral legislature (one-house Congress) with each state having one vote, but no executive or judicial branches were established under this system. The Congress had the power to conduct foreign affairs, declare war, and manage Native American relations, but it lacked the ability to impose taxes, regulate trade, or enforce laws, which made it weak in practice.
One of the key weaknesses of the Articles was the absence of a strong central government capable of effectively managing national interests. The inability to raise taxes left the government financially dependent on state contributions, which were often unreliable. This led to economic difficulties and internal unrest, most notably highlighted by Shays’ Rebellion in 1786, which demonstrated the inability of the Articles to maintain order and stability.
These issues eventually led to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, which replaced the Articles of Confederation and established a more robust federal system with a stronger central government.