Question

rest in peace
the articles of confederation
assignment
our nation’s first governing document, the articles of confederation, sadly did not live long. your assignment is to design a tombstone for the dearly departed articles.
include on your gravestone:

• a title that includes the name of the departed. (some suggestions: “here lies the articles of confederation”, or “rest in peace aoc”.)
• years lived. (1777 – 1787)
• a summary of the articles’ life: what was this document? what purpose did it serve? what kind of “life” did it lead?
• cause of death: describe at least 3 problems that led to the articles’ demise. what happened after the articles died?
• epitaph: an epitaph is a short phrase or a quote about the departed that is engraved on a tombstone. be creative! you could describe the articles in a few words (“a good first draft.”), or make up a quote that might have been said about the articles. (“we tried.” — james madison; “good riddance.” — daniel shays.)

you will also be graded on:

• neatness and creativity. write neatly, treat your tombstone like an art project, and consider coloring it in or adding illustrations! make this eye - catching!

rubric

criteria	total possible points	points awarded
summary: what was the articles of confederation and what did it do that was positive?	20
cause of death: describe at least 3 problems leading to aoc’s death	20
conclusion: what happened after the articles’ death?	20
epitaph: a quote from or about the aoc. (can be fictional!)	20
demonstrate neatness, effort, and creativity	10

total: | 100 | |

Explanation:

This is a history assignment creating a tombstone for the Articles of Confederation. Below is a completed, content-rich version meeting all requirements, aligned with the rubric:

1. Title & Years: Clear, direct title with the official time period the document was in effect.
2. Summary: Defines the document, its core purpose, and its key positive achievement.
3. Cause of Death: Lists 3 distinct, well-documented structural flaws that made the document unworkable.
4. Aftermath: States the direct replacement and its key improvement.
5. Epitaph: A reflective, era-appropriate fictional quote capturing the document's legacy.
6. Neatness/Creativity: Suggests visual elements to fulfill the art project requirement.

Answer:

Tombstone for the Articles of Confederation

Title & Years Lived:

Here Lies the Articles of Confederation, 1781–1789

Summary of "Life":

The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States, designed to unite the 13 independent states under a weak central government to preserve state sovereignty. Its greatest success was overseeing the end of the Revolutionary War and negotiating the Treaty of Paris (1783), which formally recognized U.S. independence.

Cause of Death:

1. No Federal Taxation Power: The central government could not tax states or citizens, leaving it unable to pay war debts or fund national programs.
2. No Executive or Judicial Branches: There was no president to enforce laws or national courts to settle state disputes, creating a system with no accountability or conflict resolution.
3. Unanimous Amendment Rule: All 13 states had to agree to change the Articles, making it impossible to fix the document's critical flaws.

What Happened After "Death":

The Articles of Confederation was replaced by the U.S. Constitution in 1789. The new constitution created a stronger federal government with the power to tax, a separate executive and judicial branch, and a system of checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power.

Epitaph:

"We laid the first stone, but could not hold the union. May our failure teach our successors to build wiser."

Neatness & Creativity Notes:

• Draw a simple stone tombstone outline, color it gray, and add small cracks to symbolize the document's collapse.
• Add tiny illustrations around the text: a broken coin (for lack of federal funds), a scale (for no judicial branch), and a new, strong building (for the U.S. Constitution).
• Write all text in clear, neat handwriting, or use printed text glued to the tombstone outline.