Final answer:
A Federalist at the Constitutional Convention would have criticized the Articles of Confederation for being too weak to address national issues such as taxation, defense, and commerce, advocating instead for a strong central government provided for by a new constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Constitutional Convention, a federalist supporting a stronger central government would have critiqued the Articles of Confederation for its weakness in forming an effective national government. They would have pointed out that the Articles lacked the power to tax, raise an army, or regulate commerce amongst the states. Consequently, the Confederation government struggled to address the economic problems following the Revolutionary War and to maintain order, as seen in events like Shays's Rebellion. Instead, Federalists argued for a new constitution that would establish a strong central government capable of managing national issues while still recognizing state sovereignty.