Final answer:
The Articles of Confederation's weak central government could not effectively enforce the Treaty of Paris provisions or override Massachusetts state laws to help Charles Thornton, a Loyalist, recover his property.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Articles of Confederation presented significant challenges for the young United States in addressing various issues, including those relating to Loyalists' property claims after the Revolutionary War. The Articles created a weak central government that lacked the authority to intervene effectively in disputes between individuals and states, such as the claim of Charles Thornton.
Massachusetts laws and the inability of the Confederation Congress to forcefully address such concerns show the Articles' weaknesses. The Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the Revolutionary War, included provisions for the restitution of Loyalists' property, but enforcement of these provisions fell primarily to the states.
Given the Articles' limitations, including the lack of a strong judiciary or an executive branch to enforce laws and treaties -- combined with the overarching fear of a strong central government -- states' rights often superseded national policies during this period. In Charles Thornton's situation, the response of the Confederation Congress would be constrained by its inability to enforce treaty provisions or override state legislation.