The following Free Response question has two parts.

Question

Name two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. For each weakness explain how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution.
Formal your answer as follow:
1. Naming the first weakness, then the explanation of how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution. (in 3 sentences)
2. Naming the second weakness, then explanation of how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution. ( in 3 sentences)

Answer 1

1. One weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the lack of a central authority with the power to regulate commerce. This resulted in economic chaos, as states enacted their own trade policies and established tariffs on each other. As a consequence, interstate trade was hindered, leading to economic instability and inefficiency. This weakness prompted the writing of the US Constitution, which established a strong federal government with the power to regulate commerce, ensuring the formation of a unified national economic policy.

2. Another weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the inability to effectively raise revenue. The central government had no power to levy taxes, leaving it reliant on voluntary contributions from the states. This lack of revenue severely limited the government's ability to fund essential operations, such as maintaining a military and paying off war debts. To address this weakness, the US Constitution granted the federal government the power to levy taxes and collect revenue, providing it with the necessary resources to function effectively.