1. One weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the lack of a strong central government. Under the Articles, each state had its own sovereignty and had the power to make decisions independently. However, this led to a lack of unity and coordination among the states. There was no central authority to enforce laws, regulate commerce, or resolve disputes between states. This weakness became apparent during times of crisis such as Shays' Rebellion, where the state militias proved insufficient in dealing with internal rebellion.
This weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution because it highlighted the need for a stronger central government that could address the shortcomings of the Articles. The Constitution established a federal system in which there would be a central government with powers over the states, ensuring unity and the ability to make and enforce laws at the national level. The Constitution also created three branches of government with checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, addressing the previous lack of centralized authority.
2. Another weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the inability to collect taxes. Under the Articles, the central government relied on voluntary contributions from the states, but there was no mechanism to enforce this tax collection. This led to a lack of funds for the central government to carry out its functions, such as paying off war debts or adequately funding the military. As a result, the national government struggled financially and faced persistent economic instability.
This weakness played a significant role in the writing of the US Constitution as it revealed the need for a new system of taxation that could effectively fund the central government. The Constitution granted Congress the power to levy taxes on individuals and regulate commerce, enabling the federal government to generate its own revenue. This power to tax and raise funds was crucial in establishing a more stable and financially secure central government, ensuring its ability to function effectively and meet its obligations.
The following Free Response question has two parts.
Name two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. For each weakness explain how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution.
Format your answer as follows:
1. Naming the first weakness, then the explanation of how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution
2. Naming the second weakness, then the explanation of how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution
3 answers
Shorter answer please
The following Free Response question has two parts.
Name two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. For each weakness explain how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution.
Format your answer as follows:
1. Naming the first weakness, then the explanation of how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution
2. Naming the second weakness, then the explanation of how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution
Please only 2-3 sentence for each
Name two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. For each weakness explain how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution.
Format your answer as follows:
1. Naming the first weakness, then the explanation of how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution
2. Naming the second weakness, then the explanation of how that weakness led to the writing of the US Constitution
Please only 2-3 sentence for each