List the major limitations to the articles of confederation

Question

Congress claimed the following powers for the federal government:

declaring war and peace
conducting foreign affairs
coining and borrowing money
regulating Native American affairs
settling disputes among states
The following powers were reserved for the states:

enforcing laws
regulating commerce
administering justice
levying taxes
raising militias

Answer 1

The Articles of Confederation, which served as the first constitution for the United States from 1781 to 1789, had several significant limitations that ultimately led to its replacement with the U.S. Constitution. Here are the major limitations:

1. Weak Central Authority: The federal government lacked a strong executive branch, making it difficult to enforce laws and operate effectively.

2. No Power to Tax: Congress did not have the authority to levy taxes directly. It could only request funds from the states, which often led to insufficient funding for government operations.

3. No Regulation of Commerce: The federal government could not regulate interstate or foreign commerce, leading to economic disputes between states and a lack of cohesive trade policy.

4. No Ability to Raise an Army: Congress could not draft soldiers or maintain a standing army, relying instead on state militias for defense, which could be unreliable.

5. Unanimous Consent Required for Amendments: Any changes to the Articles required unanimous agreement among the states, making it nearly impossible to adapt the government to new challenges or needs.

6. Limited Legislative Power: Each state had one vote in Congress regardless of its size or population, which led to significant imbalances in representation.

7. Difficulty in Settling Disputes: Although Congress was supposed to settle disputes between states, it often lacked the power and authority to enforce its decisions.

8. Inability to Borrow Money Effectively: While Congress could borrow money, it had limited credibility and no guaranteed way to repay debts, which hindered its ability to finance operations or respond to crises.

9. Fragmented Legal System: Each state had its own laws and courts, leading to inconsistencies in law enforcement and legal interpretations, complicating interstate relations.

10. Ineffective Response to Crises: The inability to swiftly and effectively respond to economic and security issues (e.g., Shays' Rebellion) demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles and highlighted the need for a more robust federal government.

These limitations contributed to a realization among leaders that a stronger national government was necessary, eventually leading to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.