What were the main problems associated with the Articles of Confederation?

• A. The national government could not regulate trade or interstate commerce
• B. The national government could not raise an army
• C. The national government could not impose taxes
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that the central government created by the Articles of Confederation was intentionally weak and lacked essential powers needed to govern effectively. Three major problems stood out. First, there was no power to regulate trade, either between states or with other countries, so there was no unified national economic policy and countless interstate disputes and tariffs. Second, the national government could not raise money through taxes; it could only request funds from the states, and states often refused or fell short, leaving the government chronically underfunded and unable to pay debts or run programs. Third, it could not compel people or states to provide troops, so there was no reliable national army or defense.

Together, these gaps meant the national government couldn’t manage the economy, defend the country, or uphold obligations, which is why the problem description fits “All of the above” best. The situation also reflected broader weaknesses—like the absence of a strong executive, no national court system, and requiring broad, hard-to-achieve consensus for major actions—but the core issue is simply that the central government lacked the powers necessary to govern effectively.