state legislatures had no power to tax their citizens
The states had more power over taxation under the Articles of Confederation.
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The most pressing was likely paying for the operations of the new government, there being no Federal power of taxation granted by the Articles of Confederation.
The Articles of Confederation created a loose union of the States. Each state was essentially independent. There was no real Federal Government under the Articles. Nearly all business of government was conducted by the states, including taxation and defense.
- To coin money - Taxation - Credit to borrow money - To declare war - Post office & roads
Under the Articles of Confederation, the issue of taxation was primarily handled by the individual states. The central government had limited power to levy taxes and relied on voluntary contributions from the states. This lack of authority to tax was one of the weaknesses of the Articles, as it hindered the ability of the central government to fund its operations and pay off national debt.
Aside from the Revolutionary War being underway, the problem with the Articles was that they required unanimousratification, i.e. by all thirteen states. This was not accomplished until 1781.Most of the states did not agree with it unless they benefited from it, and they did not care how it affected the other states. Maryland especially wanted Virginia and New York to drop their claims to the Ohio Valley.
As the original governing document of the United States of America, the Articles of Confederation had a number of strengths yet, perhaps, an even greater number of weaknesses. Foremost among these weaknesses were the following: Congress had no power of taxation, no executive branch of government existed, and no judicial system was formally established by it.