The Weakness of the Articles of Confederation

What was considered a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

A. The federal government gave too much power to the chief executive
B. The federal government did not have the power to tax
C. The federal government restricted states' rights
D. The federal government did not have a legislative branch

Answer:

B. The federal government did not have the power to tax

Explanation:

Under the Articles of Confederation, the states were given independence and sovereignty at the expense of a very weak central government consisting of a Legislative Branch that had few powers such as regulating post offices, appointing officers in the military, regulating the armed forces, and declaring war among others.

However, one significant weakness was that the federal government was denied any powers of taxation to properly enforce those functions. While Congress could only raise money by asking states for funds, the states had the option to refuse the request and often failed to meet the full amount. As a result, Congress resorted to printing money, causing the continental dollars to depreciate.