Confederation in Crisis
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Game Info for Teachers
COMBINED RATING
TEACHERS (2)
STUDENTS (0)
LENGTH
15 Minutes
GRADES
CAPABILITIES
Description
Step into the year 1783 as the Secretary of Congress! The American War of Independence is won, but the young nation is on the brink of collapse. In this immersive 3D isometric simulation, students experience firsthand the Articles of Confederation's severe limitations. Face authentic historical crises: deal with unpaid veterans, interstate trade wars, Barbary pirates, and the alarming Shays' Rebellion. Listen to citizens' grievances, review official letters at your desk, and try to solve the nation's problems using only the weak powers granted to the early national government. Ultimately, players will discover why the Articles failed and why calling the Philadelphia Convention was the only way to save the Union!
Vocabulary Words
Instructions
Play through this interactive game to learn about Articles of Confederation. Suitable for Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8.
Main Concepts
Discussion Questions
Before the Game
Having just fought a revolutionary war against a British king, why were early American leaders terrified of creating a strong central government? What kind of government did they create instead? Why is a government unable to survive or protect its people if it doesn't have the power to collect taxes directly from its citizens?
After the Game
The Articles required a unanimous vote (13 out of 13 states) to make any amendments. Why does requiring total agreement make fixing a government almost impossible? Based on the six crises you encountered in the game, what are three specific new powers that had to be included in the new U.S. Constitution to fix the Articles' biggest mistakes? How did events like Shays' Rebellion prove to national leaders that relying on state militias without a national army or executive branch was dangerous for public safety?