Final answer:
Under the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. government would have struggled to respond to the 9/11 attacks due to a lack of central authority, the inability to raise a standing army, difficulties in financial contribution from states, and challenges in establishing unified foreign policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the Articles of Confederation were still in effect during the events of September 11, 2001, the United States government would have faced substantial difficulties in responding effectively. Under the Articles, there was a significant lack of central authority, as the national government had very limited powers compared to today's federal system. This would have been especially problematic in dealing with such a national emergency.
The national government lacked the power to raise an army or navy, and the reliance on individual states to provide soldiers could have resulted in delayed or insufficient defense and response capabilities. Moreover, the Confederation Congress had no ability to compel states to contribute financially or otherwise to a common cause, exacerbating the potential for disjointed and inadequate handling of the crisis. The Articles also made it cumbersome for the government to resolve public finance issues, affecting the capacity to fund emergency management and recovery efforts.
Establishing workable foreign and commercial policies was another challenge under the Articles of Confederation, as each state could essentially opt out of complying with international treaties or agreements, leading to potential confusion and lack of unified action in the wake of the attacks. Therefore, coordinating an international response or managing foreign relations during such an incident would have presented significant hurdles.