What were the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

What were the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

• A. Excessive federal authority
• B. Balanced power between branches
• C. Strong central government and lack of state sovereignty
• D. No power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws

Answer: (D)

The main thing being tested is why the national government under the Articles of Confederation was so weak. The key problem is that Congress had almost no power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws. Without the ability to tax, the national government couldn’t raise money to pay debts, fund essential services, or support a standing army. Without power to regulate trade, states could impose their own tariffs and rules, hampering a cohesive national economy and weakening the young country’s negotiating leverage abroad. And without any real enforcement authority or an executive to carry out laws, treaties and policies often went ignored or were inconsistently applied. These gaps meant the national government could not carry out basic functions, leaving most authority in the hands of the states. That’s why this option best describes the major weaknesses of the Articles. The other ideas describe a stronger central government or more balanced power, which is opposite to what the Articles actually established.

The main thing being tested is why the national government under the Articles of Confederation was so weak. The key problem is that Congress had almost no power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws. Without the ability to tax, the national government couldn’t raise money to pay debts, fund essential services, or support a standing army. Without power to regulate trade, states could impose their own tariffs and rules, hampering a cohesive national economy and weakening the young country’s negotiating leverage abroad. And without any real enforcement authority or an executive to carry out laws, treaties and policies often went ignored or were inconsistently applied.

These gaps meant the national government could not carry out basic functions, leaving most authority in the hands of the states. That’s why this option best describes the major weaknesses of the Articles. The other ideas describe a stronger central government or more balanced power, which is opposite to what the Articles actually established.