The Articles of Confederation were weak because they created a national government that lacked essential powers such as the ability to tax, enforce laws, regulate interstate commerce, maintain a standing army, and establish a national judiciary. The government under the Articles had no executive branch or president to enforce legislation, and it required unanimous consent from states to amend the Articles, making reform nearly impossible. States retained significant sovereignty, often ignoring federal requests, which led to economic disunity, lack of national security, and legislative inefficiencies. These weaknesses made the government ineffective in addressing internal conflicts like Shays' Rebellion, managing foreign relations, and unifying the country economically and politically.
Key Weaknesses
- No Power to Tax: Congress could request funds but could not compel states to pay, leaving the government chronically underfunded.
- No Executive Branch: There was no president or central authority to enforce laws passed by Congress.
- No National Judiciary: Without a court system, disputes between states could not be resolved at the national level.
- No Regulation of Interstate Commerce: States controlled their own trade rules and currencies, causing economic confusion and barriers.
- No Standing Army: Congress could not raise a national army to respond to rebellions or external threats.
- Amendment Process: Amendments required unanimous approval by all thirteen states, making it nearly impossible to fix problems.
Impact
- The government could not effectively respond to crises like Shays' Rebellion.
- States often ignored federal laws or tax requests, weakening national cohesion.
- Relations with foreign powers suffered due to lack of centralized leadership and enforcement power.
- Economic disunity and competing state interests hindered the growth of a stable national economy.
These limitations ultimately led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where the U.S. Constitution was drafted to create a stronger federal government.
