Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation? A. Congress could not tax B. Congress could not regulate trade C. There was no national court system D. All of the above
Correct :>
The weakness of the Articles of Confederation is embodied in the options A, B, and C, as all of them were limitations under the Articles.
To determine this, let's go through each option and explain its significance:
Option A states that Congress could not tax. One of the significant weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was that the national government had limited authority and lacked the power to levy and collect taxes from the states. This hindrance made it difficult for the government to generate revenue and fund its activities, including the repayment of war debts.
Option B states that Congress could not regulate trade. Another weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the lack of power to regulate interstate or foreign trade. Each state could impose tariffs or other trade barriers on goods imported from other states, leading to economic conflicts and inefficiencies in commerce.
Option C states that there was no national court system. Under the Articles, there was no established federal judiciary to adjudicate legal disputes between states, individuals, or even interpret federal laws. This meant that conflicts between states or disputes involving the interpretation of federal laws were left unresolved or had to be addressed on a state-by-state basis.
When we consider all these options, it becomes evident that the correct answer is D, "All of the above." The Articles of Confederation suffered from all of these weaknesses, which ultimately led to their replacement by the Constitution.