Question

Why didn't the leaders of the United States choose to simply revise or improve the Articles of Confederation in 1787?

A The citizens of every state signed petitions demanding that their leaders scrap the articles of Confederation and create a new plan of government.


B The Articles of Confederation had always been envisioned as a temporary document, not a long-term plan for the country's government.


C They accepted that the country needed a stronger central government than the one created by the Articles of Confederation could provide.


D Great Britain had recognized the weakness of the United States under the Articles of Confederation and was planning to attack and conquer the country.

Answer 1

The Articles of Confederation were not merely revised due to their fundamental weaknesses and the need for a more robust central government to address issues like national defense and economic regulation. The correct answer is option C.

Step-by-step explanation:

The leaders of the United States chose not to simply revise or improve the Articles of Confederation in 1787 because they recognized the need for a stronger central government than what was provided by the Articles. The Articles' inability to adequately address critical issues such as defense, taxation, and interstate commerce highlighted its weaknesses. Influential figures like Madison and Hamilton, along with incidents like Shays' Rebellion, demonstrated that the existing system was too weak to effectively govern the nation. Thus, delegates met in Philadelphia and decided to create a new Constitution, which established a federal system with balanced state and national authorities.