What made the Articles of Confederation weak?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States. It seeks to understand the factors that contributed to its ineffectiveness as a governing document.
Answer
Lacked authority to regulate commerce, enforce laws, and raise taxes.
The Articles of Confederation were weak because they lacked the authority to regulate commerce, enforce laws, and raise taxes.
Answer for screen readers
The Articles of Confederation were weak because they lacked the authority to regulate commerce, enforce laws, and raise taxes.
More Information
The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States. They prioritized state sovereignty over a strong central government, which led to significant challenges in creating a unified national policy.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume that the Articles were ineffective in all respects; they had some successes, like the Northwest Ordinance.
Sources
- Identifying Defects in the Constitution - loc.gov
- Weaknesses, Definition, Date | HISTORY - history.com
- Why the Articles of Confederation Failed - ThoughtCo - thoughtco.com
