What was a central weakness of the Articles that prevented it from functioning effectively?

• A. It had no power to tax
• B. It created a strong executive
• C. It had a separate national judiciary
• D. It required a constitutional amendment for any action

Answer: (A)

The central weakness being tested is the national government’s inability to raise revenue because it lacked the power to tax. Under the Articles, the new government could only request money from the states, which led to chronic underfunding and unpaid debts. Without reliable funds, it couldn’t pay soldiers, run operations, or honor treaties, and it struggled to maintain national security or a functioning postal system. Because money drives so many government activities, this lack of power to tax crippled the government far more than other missing features. While there were other gaps, such as the absence of a strong executive or a national court, none undermined daily functioning as directly as the inability to levy and collect taxes.