What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

The selection of "national government too weak" highlights one of the most significant flaws of the Articles of Confederation, which served as the first constitution of the United States from 1781 to 1789. Under the Articles, the national government lacked the authority to levy taxes, regulate commerce, or enforce laws, leading to an inability to address pressing issues such as economic instability, interstate disputes, and external threats. The weakness of the national government made it challenging to coordinate a unified response among the states, resulting in a system that was overly fragmented and ineffective.

This situation ultimately demonstrated the need for a stronger central authority, which was a driving force behind the convening of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The failure of the Articles emphasized the necessity for a balance between state and federal power, prompting the creation of a new Constitution that established a robust framework for governance, including checks and balances among branches of government, a clearer structure of federal authority, and mechanisms for taxation and regulation.

In contrast, the other options reflect concepts that were either absent or contrary to the reality under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles did not create a strong national government, establish a federal court system, or explicitly guarantee individual rights, which were all aspects that the