Final answer:
The Articles of Confederation were weak because they precluded the national government from exercising sufficient authority, impacting the ability to tax, enforce laws, and maintain defense, which led to the Constitutional Convention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Articles of Confederation were considered weak because they did not allow the national government to exert sufficient authority over the states. Under the Articles, the government lacked many essential powers, including enforcing laws, taxing, and raising an army. The inability to resolve critical issues such as economic crises and internal revolts, like Shays' Rebellion, illustrated the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the Confederation government. The limitations of the Articles led to the Constitutional Convention, where the need for a stronger federal structure that balanced power between the national and state governments was recognized and established in the U.S. Constitution.
The biggest problem with the Articles of Confederation was the lack of power given to the national government. Since the founders feared a strong central government, the Articles created a weak alliance where the sovereignty of individual states was prioritized, causing the central government to be too feeble to function effectively. Notably, the government could not raise an army or navy, coin money independently, or regulate commerce between states.