Question

What was a significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

A) It established a framework for dealing with foreign governments.
B) It provided a process for admitting new states to the Union.
C) It lacked the power to tax or regulate trade, leading to financial instability.
D) It had a strong executive branch to enforce laws.

What was one strength of the Articles of Confederation?
A) It allowed the federal government to tax citizens directly.
B) It created a powerful central government.
C) It established a framework for foreign diplomacy.
D) It had a process for admitting new states to the Union.

Answer 1

One significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the lack of power given to the national government. It was unable to raise an army or navy and had limited control over important matters such as foreign relations. These weaknesses eventually led to the call for a stronger central government and the creation of the U.S. Constitution.

Step-by-step explanation:

One significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the lack of power given to the national government. The central government under the Articles was quite weak relative to the states, which limited its ability to function effectively. For example, it had no power to raise an army or navy, and had to rely on the states for soldiers in times of war. This weakness was evident during Shays' Rebellion, when the national government could not provide assistance to Massachusetts due to its inability to raise an army.

In addition, the Articles of Confederation made it difficult for the central government to solve border issues and secure better commercial relations with other countries. The government was powerless to address these important matters, which undermined the credibility of the United States on the international stage. The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation eventually led to calls for a stronger central government, resulting in the creation of the U.S. Constitution.