What were the weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation?

Question

no authority to deal with foreign governments
no executive branch
no power to levy taxes
no national legislature
no national court system
large states wanted more voting power than small states
choose all that apply

Answer 1

The weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation included:

1. No authority to deal with foreign governments - The national government had limited power to conduct foreign policy and negotiate treaties effectively.

2. No executive branch - There was no separate executive branch to enforce laws or carry out national policies.

3. No power to levy taxes - The national government could not impose taxes, which made it difficult to raise funds for its operations and pay off debts.

4. No national legislature - There was a legislative body, but it was unicameral and had limited powers, making it ineffective in creating a strong national policy.

5. No national court system - There was no federal judiciary to resolve disputes between states or address issues under national law.

6. Large states wanted more voting power than small states - This created conflicts over representation and made it difficult to reach a consensus, leading to inefficiencies in governance.

Therefore, all options listed are applicable as weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation.