Final answer:
Articles 7 and 8 of the Articles of Confederation hindered the U.S. ability to effectively fight a war by prohibiting the central government from raising an army or navy, depending instead on unreliable state contributions of troops.
Step-by-step explanation:
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Articles 7 and 8 of the Articles of Confederation significantly weakened the United States' ability to wage war effectively. The central government lacked the power to raise an army or navy, leaving it dependent on the states to supply soldiers. This decentralization of military power meant that if state governors were unwilling to provide troops, the national defense would be compromised. This weakness was exposed during times of conflict, including when the British and Spanish controlled significant areas of North America, and during internal strife such as Shays's Rebellion, demonstrating the inability of the Confederation Congress to address critical issues related to defense and public finance.
The structure of the Confederation government aimed to protect state sovereignty but resulted in a powerless and ineffective national administration. The Articles limited the government's abilities in resolving border disputes, securing favorable commercial relationships, and maintaining a standing military force. Moreover, this system posed alarming concerns as it could not effectively counter threats or insurgency, seen widely as a fail point after Shays's Rebellion highlighted the inabilities of the Confederation Congress.
In light of these issues, it was clear by 1787 that significant changes were needed to create a more robust federal government capable of managing national defense and other affairs effectively. The Articles were crafting with a fear of tyranny in mind, but this led to a government structure that was incapable in many respects and ultimately pushed for reform and the creation of the U.S. Constitution.