1. One weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the lack of a strong central government. Under the Articles, the central government had limited power and could not effectively enforce laws or collect taxes. This led to economic instability and difficulties in maintaining a functioning nation. In order to address this weakness, the US Constitution was written to establish a stronger federal government with the power to levy taxes, regulate commerce, and enforce laws. The Constitution created a system of checks and balances that balanced the power between the central government and the states.
2. Another weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the lack of a unified national defense system. The central government had no authority to raise an army or navy, making it difficult to protect the country from external threats. This weakness became evident during the Shays' Rebellion, when a group of farmers in Massachusetts rebelled against high taxes and debt. The inability of the central government to effectively respond to this rebellion highlighted the need for a stronger national defense system. As a result, the US Constitution granted the federal government the power to raise and maintain a standing army, as well as the authority to provide for the common defense of the nation.
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
(4 points)
0 / 50 Word Limit
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