Matching weaknesses to results:
No strong leadership existed in the form of a president.
- Many other nations took advantage of the absence of a strong central government.
No provisions were made for a national court.
- There was no authority to make the states comply with Congressional laws.
Congress was not allowed to raise money through taxes.
- Congress had to borrow funds from foreign governments.
Congress couldn’t control interstate commerce.
- Trade disputes arose between states.
Historical context:
The Articles of Confederation created a strong legislative branch, a weak executive branch, and no judicial branch.
The states themselves had judicial and executive branches, but on the national level, the Articles of Confederation really gave all the power to Congress, the legislative branch. There would be a President as an executive officer, but he was chosen from a Committee of the States that was appointed by Congress. The American colonists, in forming the new nation, had initially shown much concern about limiting any executive branch power, fearing it would become like the king of Britain had been in wielding excessive power.
The Articles of Confederation were not sufficient for managing the challenges of forming a new nation, and were ultimately replaced with the Constitution of the United States.
