Final answer:
The Articles of Confederation, while the first constitution of the United States, were significantly flawed. They failed to address critical issues including trade, taxation, and national defense which were only resolved with their replacement by the U.S. Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Articles of Confederation were the precursor to the current United States Constitution and were in effect between 1781 and 1789. As the nation's first constitution, they did not sufficiently address several critical issues including commerce, taxation, and national security.With respect to trade, the Articles did not empower the federal government to effectively regulate interstate or international commerce. Each state often functioned as its own entity leading to battles over trade regulations and tariffs. Also, the national government had no power to impose direct taxes on the populace, relying heavily on the individual states to contribute their share, which was not always forthcoming.In matters of national security, the Articles fell severely short. The most notable failure was demonstrated during Shay's Rebellion. Without the power to raise a national army, the national government found itself helpless, relying on Massachusetts to quell the uprising.Ultimately, the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation resulted in their replacement by the United States Constitution, effectively acknowledging their inability to address the problems of the new nation.
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