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The federal government under the Articles of Confederation did not have much direct power over the states. It could not directly tax any commerce, or regulate trade, and did not have a provision for a national army. There was also no chief executive.

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Kaylin Heller

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2y ago
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6y ago

Some Weaknesses of the Articles

  • The Articles of Confederation gave too much power to the states and not enough to the central government. Essentially, they created a weak central government, under which the states could not operate effectively as a single nation.
  • The articles created no separate executive department to carry out and enforce the acts of Congress and no national court system to interpret the meaning of laws.
  • 9 out of the 13 states had to approve any major law before it was passed.
  • There was no standing army to protect the nation.
  • Each state could create its own foreign policy, including the passage of treaties.
  • Each state could create its own money and it might not be accepted in other states. The war left a huge debt, but the Articles didn't allow congress to collect taxes, only to ask for money from the states.
  • Under the Articles there was only a unicameral legislature so that there was no separation of powers.
  • The central government under the Articles was too weak since the majority of the power rested with the states.
  • In order to change or amend the Articles, unanimous approval of the states was required which essentially meant that changes to the Articles were impossible.
  • Under the Articles, Congress did not have the power to regulate commerce which would cause competition between states, as well as diplomatic issues.
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13y ago

The Articles of Confederation created a weak national government with most of the governmental powers retained by the states. The Articles provided no separation of branches. There was no president or any other independent executive, nor was there a federal judicial branch. Congress, the legislature, was the only branch of government. Laws required unanimous votes. Members elected to congress did not vote as individuals, but as states. While congress did have some powers, it could not enforce its laws on the states or the people. States were permitted to coin their own money. There was no regulation of commerce between the states and states could even enter into treaties with foreign nations and declare war, "with the consent of Congress." Congress could not tax the states or the people, it could only request funds to run the government.

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14y ago

The Articles of Confederation, the first official government of the United States had many serious weaknesses. 1) Under the Articles there was only a unicameral legislature so that there was no separation of powers. 2) The central government under the Articles was too weak since the majority of the power rested with the states. 3) Congress, under the Articles, did not have the power to tax which meant that they could never put their finances in order. 4) In order to change or amend the Articles, unanimous approval of the states was required which essentially meant that changes to the Articles were impossible. 5) For any major laws to pass they had to be approved by 9 or the 13 states which proved difficult to do so that even the normal business of running a government was difficult. 6) Under the Articles, Congress did not have the power to regulate commerce which will cause competition between states as well as diplomatic issues,

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9y ago

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.

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12y ago

Some weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation are that they had no money and no power to raise money. They had no power over the state government of their citizens. Congress couldn't make states live up to trade arguments with other nations. Congress had no power to regulate trade among the states. Citizens thought that their property rights were threatened.

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13y ago

The Articles of Confederation provided for a disjointed American government. It had no single head of state. It also made it so that states did not have to comply with anything of the type of a national mandate. This way, the country was not a union. Another thing to be noted about this system is that there were no national taxes allowed, so the government relied solely on donations from the states, who were stingy with money.

Imagine how much money the government would get now without the IRS!

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Wiki User

10y ago

The government only had one branch and lacked the ability to tax and draft.

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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago

eat my fat d!!!!!!!!1ck

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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
Nice

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Q: What were the weaknesds of the Articles of Confederation?
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