Final answer:
The Articles of Confederation faced issues such as lack of centralized authority, interstate disputes, and economic instability, which hindered effective governance and needed to be addressed for the United States' federal government to function smoothly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Articles of Confederation needed several issues to be addressed for the new government to operate smoothly. Some of the key issues that were identified include:
- Lack of centralized authority - The government lacked the power to enforce laws or collect taxes.
- Interstate disputes - States operated almost like independent countries, leading to disputes.
- Foreign relations weaknesses - The inability to present a united front to foreign countries affected international relationships and trade.
- Economic instability - Under the Articles, there was no common currency or central economic policy, causing economic turmoil.
- Inability to raise funds for defense - The government could not require states to contribute to a national military.
- Legislative inefficiencies - The government was slow to act because unanimous consent was often required for major decisions.
- Lack of an executive branch - There was no central leader or executive body to implement and enforce laws.
These issues were significant obstacles in ensuring domestic tranquility, managing the economy, and providing for national defense. The Constitution eventually resolved many of these problems by establishing a stronger federal government with distinct executive, legislative, and judicial branches.