The success or failure of the Articles of Confederation (AOC) in protecting the country from war is best summarized by the statement:
"Under the AOC, the federal government had the power to declare war but could not effectively protect the country because it did not have an army, so it was a failure."
This response captures the core issue with the AOC: although it granted the federal government certain powers, including the ability to declare war, it lacked the capability to raise and maintain a standing army or effectively coordinate military actions. The reliance on state militias and the difficulty in mobilizing them for national defense highlighted the weaknesses in the AOC, making it more difficult to respond to internal and external threats. Ultimately, this led to significant challenges in protecting the nation, which the AOC was unable to effectively address, demonstrating its failure in this regard.