Final answer:
The Articles of Confederation had significant weaknesses, including a lack of strong central authority and the inability to raise revenue or maintain a standing army, which led to financial issues and vulnerability to unrest and external threats. These deficiencies highlighted the need for a stronger federal government, resulting in the Constitutional Convention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
The primary weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation are illustrated by both the text and accompanying cartoons as a lack of a strong central government and the inability to raise revenue. These weaknesses were significant because they led to financial instability and challenges in maintaining a standing army. The Articles of Confederation were too democratic in nature, which caused the national government to lack independent power to tax, repay the national debt, and protect against internal disturbances, as seen with Shays's Rebellion. Additionally, without the power to enforce state compliance, the central government could not guarantee an adequate defense during times when external threats were present from powers such as England and Spain.
Another issue was the ineffectiveness of the government under the Articles of Confederation in addressing economic problems following the Revolutionary War. The lack of a strong national government meant that neither the state governments nor the Confederation could solve these significant economic issues, eventually leading to uprisings such as Shays's Rebellion which underscored the need to revise the Confederation.
Ultimately, the Constitutional Convention was called to address these numerous shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and to establish a federal government capable of managing the country's needs more effectively.