Answer & Explanation:
The Articles of Confederation, the United States' first constitution from 1781 to 1789, established a weak central government. It did grant some central powers to the new U.S. federal government, including:
1. The power to declare war: The federal government had the authority to declare war and make peace.
2. No central powers over tariffs: Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government had no power to regulate or control tariffs. Each state could impose tariffs and trade policies, leading to trade disputes and difficulties.
3. Limited power to levy taxes: While the federal government could request taxes from the states, it could not directly levy taxes on individuals or businesses. It relied on the states' voluntary contributions, and this lack of a reliable revenue source made it difficult to fund government operations and led to financial instability.
The weakness of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation was a major factor in the decision to replace it with the United States Constitution in 1789, which established a stronger federal government with more centralized powers, including the power to levy taxes and regulate trade.