Discuss 3 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and how it led to a new Constitution.

Restate the question.
What were three weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation that led to the creation of a new Constitution?

Answer the question.
The Articles of Confederation had several weaknesses that made it necessary to create a new Constitution. First, it lacked a strong central government. This made it difficult to enforce laws and regulate trade among the states. Second, the Articles provided no power to levy taxes. This caused financial instability and dependence on state contributions, which were often unreliable. Lastly, the inability to regulate commerce created economic challenges, as states imposed tariffs on one another, leading to trade disputes.

Cite evidence (give support/details).
The weakness of a decentralized government is evident in the inability of the Confederation Congress to act decisively during Shays' Rebellion in 1786, where an armed uprising revealed the federal government’s lack of power to intervene effectively (Wood, 1998). Additionally, the Confederation Congress could not impose taxes; in 1785, only approximately $400,000 was collected from the states with millions owed in war debt (Ellis, 2007). States began implementing their own tariffs and trade restrictions, resulting in economic discord – for instance, during the 1780s, states like Massachusetts and New York imposed tariffs that hindered interstate commerce (Berger, 2012).

Explain your evidence.
The inability to enforce laws, as seen during Shays' Rebellion, highlighted the fragility of the Confederation and demonstrated the need for a more robust and responsive national government. The absence of the power to levy taxes led to chaotic financial conditions, as the federal government resorted to borrowing from individual states, leaving it vulnerable and weakened. Finally, the economic turmoil caused by state-imposed tariffs fostered a fragmented economic landscape that hindered growth and stability, underlining the necessity for a coordinated economic policy that only a stronger central authority could provide.

Summarize and wrap up your thoughts.
In summary, the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation—including the lack of a strong central government, the inability to levy taxes, and the failure to regulate commerce—created significant challenges that ultimately necessitated the drafting of a new Constitution. These weaknesses were pivotal in demonstrating the need for a more powerful federal structure capable of addressing the varied needs of the states and fostering national unity. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 emerged as a response to these critical issues, leading to the formation of a government designed to correct the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation.