The problem with the national government having to request states for taxes and money is that it created a significant difficulty in effectively and efficiently funding the operations of the government. Without the power to directly tax and collect revenue, the national government relied heavily on the voluntary contributions from the states. However, since there was no specific obligation for states to contribute, they often neglected or delayed the payments. This resulted in a chronic lack of funds for the national government to carry out its functions, such as paying off debts, running a military, or conducting foreign diplomacy.
How did the Constitution address this concern?
The Constitution addressed this concern by granting the national government the power to levy taxes and collect revenue directly from the people. Specifically, Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to lay and collect taxes to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. This provision eliminated the dependency on state contributions and allowed the national government to generate its own funds to operate effectively.
Directions: Begin by reading the areas of concern regarding the Articles of Confederation. Consider how these areas of concern would create problems for the nation. After considering the problems, determine how the Constitution addressed or fixes these areas of concern.
The national government had to request states for taxes and money.
What problem(s) would this create?
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