What is the biggest flaw of the Articles of Confederation?
Asked by: Marlene Hickle | Last update: January 30, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (46 votes)
The biggest flaw of the Articles of Confederation was creating a weak central government that lacked the power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws effectively, leaving the states too sovereign and independent, which led to economic chaos and an inability to manage national affairs, essentially making the U.S. more like a loose alliance of countries than a unified nation. This lack of centralized authority meant Congress couldn't compel states to pay debts or contribute funds, nor could it resolve disputes between states or raise a national army efficiently.
What were the flaws of the Articles of Confederation?
With the passage of time, weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation became apparent; Congress commanded little respect and no support from state governments anxious to maintain their power. Congress could not raise funds, regulate trade, or conduct foreign policy without the voluntary agreement of the states.
How were the Articles of Confederation flawed?
But the Articles of Confederation were weak and defective: The primary problem was a powerless federal authority, a government that was more like a union of independent nations than a single, unified country. Instead of a strong, peaceful country, the states fought one another with limited respect for the rule of law.
What is the biggest weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles established a weak central government and placed most powers in the hands of the states. Under the Articles, the US economy faltered, since the central government lacked the power to enforce tax laws or regulate commerce.
What was the biggest issue of the Articles of Confederation?
One of the central weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was its lack of a strong central government, which severely hampered the United States' ability to conduct foreign affairs effectively. The Articles granted Congress the authority to negotiate treaties, declare war, and manage foreign relations.
The Articles of Confederation
What are 5 reasons the Articles of Confederation failed?
10 reasons why America's first constitution failed
- The states didn't act immediately. ...
- The central government was designed to be very, very weak. ...
- The Articles Congress only had one chamber and each state had one vote. ...
- Congress needed 9 of 13 states to pass any laws. ...
- The document was practically impossible to amend.
What are three problems of the Articles of Confederation?
Three major problems with the Articles of Confederation were the weak central government, inability to tax or regulate commerce, and lack of an executive or judicial branch, leading to financial chaos, interstate disputes, and difficulty enforcing laws, famously highlighted by Shays's Rebellion.
What was the most serious weakness in the Articles of Confederation?
No Power to Tax or Regulate Trade: One of the most significant weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was the central government's inability to levy taxes or regulate interstate commerce. It heavily relied on voluntary contributions from the states, which often led to funding shortages and financial instability.
How did they fix the Articles of Confederation?
Delegates quickly agreed that the defects of the frame of government could not be remedied by altering the Articles, and so went beyond their mandate by authoring a new constitution and sent it to the states for ratification.
How was the weakness of the Articles of Confederation fixed?
The Constitution fixed the weaknesses by allowing the central government certain powers/rights. Below are some of the items the Articles did not address: Constitution became the supreme law of the United States. Congress now has the right to levy taxes.
What were the 5 issues of the Articles of Confederation?
When the 55 delegates gathered in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, there were several major issues on the agenda to discuss including representation, state versus federal powers, executive power, slavery, and commerce.
What was the US called before 1776?
Before 1776, the land that became the United States was known as British America, a collection of distinct colonies, often called the "United Colonies" (or "United Colonies of North America") by the colonists themselves, who identified more with their specific colony than a unified nation. The name "United States of America" first appeared in the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, officially adopted by the Second Continental Congress in September 1776.
Why was it so hard to amend the Articles?
To ensure it would last, the framers made amending the document a difficult task. That difficulty was obvious recently when supporters of congressional term limits and a balanced budget amendment were not successful in getting the new amendments they wanted.
What are the disadvantages of a Confederation?
In a confederal system, power is primarily held by the individual states or regions, with a limited central government. This lack of a strong central authority can lead to conflict and instability within the confederation, as states may choose to secede or act independently.
What are the 5 main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation had five main weaknesses: a weak central government, no executive branch, no national court system, lack of power to regulate trade, and difficulty in amending the Articles. These limitations made it challenging for the federal government to effectively govern the new nation.
What were the three biggest weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
- Weakness: 9 out of 13 states had to agree on a law before it was passed. Problem: Congress had trouble passing laws.
- Weakness: The Articles of Confederation could not be changed without a unanimous vote. ...
- Weakness: Each state had its own currency (money).
What are the six weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation had significant weaknesses, including Congress's inability to levy taxes and regulate trade, the requirement of a unanimous vote for amendments, no federal court system, no national executive, and the need for nine states to approve new laws.
What were the Articles of Confederation and why did it fail?
The Articles of Confederation were America's first governing document (1781-1789), creating a weak central government with most power in the states, designed to prevent tyranny but ultimately failing because it couldn't effectively tax, regulate trade, enforce laws, or raise an army, leading to economic chaos and instability, highlighted by events like Shays' Rebellion, prompting replacement by the Constitution.
In what two ways were the original Articles of Confederation flawed?
In what ways where the original Articles of Confederation flawed? They naively allowed subjects too much autonomy. Citizens need rules to thrive.
What are the most glaring weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
In summary, the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, including the lack of a strong central authority, the inability to levy taxes, the absence of a unified military, and the requirement for unanimous agreement for amendments, severely hampered the effectiveness of the government and led to its eventual ...
What replaced the Articles of Confederation?
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land in the United States of America and is the world's longest surviving charter of government. It replaced the Articles of Confederation which served as the United States' first constitution.
What was the biggest problem with the Articles?
The weakness of the Articles of Confederation was that Congress was not strong enough to enforce laws or raise taxes, making it difficult for the new nation to repay its debts from the Revolutionary War.
What were two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation made evident by Shay's rebellion?
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation made evident by Shays' Rebellion are: The federal government could not raise money to pay soldiers because it could not collect taxes. The federal government could not maintain an army to end the rebellion.
Which country has the most difficult Constitution to amend?
Ancient and virtually impervious to amendment, the United States Constitution has withstood all modern efforts to renovate its outdated architecture on elections, federalism, rights, and beyond.
Can the U.S. president change the Constitution?
Amending the Constitution would require a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, and also ratification by three-quarters of the states. The effort to erase the citizenship guarantee will never clear those hurdles — for very good reasons.