Question

Why did Maryland initially refuse to approve the Articles of Confederation?

A) Disagreement over state representation in the federal government.
B) Concerns about the lack of a centralized authority to regulate commerce.
C) A desire to maintain individual state sovereignty.
D) Doubts about the effectiveness of the proposed central government.

Answer 1

c. Maryland hesitated to ratify the Articles of Confederation due to territorial claims over the land west of the Appalachians, wanting it to be national land. They acquiesced when Virginia ceded its claims, forging a government that struggled with efficiency and authority.

Step-by-step explanation:

c. Maryland initially refused to approve the Articles of Confederation because it argued that all territory west of the Appalachians, claimed by some states, should be controlled by the national government for the benefit of all. This dispute over western land claims delayed Maryland's approval.

It wasn't until Virginia relinquished its land claims that Maryland agreed to ratify the Articles in early 1781, leading to the formation of a government that was perceived as weak and unable to effectively govern the Union.