Why did John Jay believe the Articles of Confederation were failing?

Responses

They unfairly increased the level of taxes on citizens.
They unfairly increased the level of taxes on citizens.

They still allowed a king to be in control.
They still allowed a king to be in control.

They were unable to stop the lawlessness in Massachusetts.
They were unable to stop the lawlessness in Massachusetts.

They kept people from having personal liberty.

1 answer

John Jay believed the Articles of Confederation were failing primarily because they were unable to stop the lawlessness in Massachusetts. This is particularly relevant in the context of Shays' Rebellion, which highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles in dealing with civil unrest and ensuring order. The Articles provided a very weak central government that struggled to enforce laws and support state governments during crises, leading to concerns about the overall stability and effectiveness of the government.