Why did the Articles of Confederation have to be replaced by the Constitution?
A.
The Articles of Confederation were never ratified by the states.
B.
The Articles angered state leaders by giving the central government too much power.
C.
The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that had to be strengthened.
D.
The Articles of Confederation were only designed to last through the Revolutionary War.
C. The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that had to be strengthened.
The correct answer is C. The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that had to be strengthened.
To understand why the Articles of Confederation had to be replaced by the Constitution, we need to examine the options A, B, C, and D.
Option A states that the Articles of Confederation were never ratified by the states. This is not accurate because the Articles were indeed ratified by all 13 states in 1781.
Option B suggests that the Articles angered state leaders by giving the central government too much power. While this is partially true, it does not fully explain the need for a new constitution. The central government under the Articles of Confederation was actually quite weak, with limited authority to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws.
Option C says that the Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that had to be strengthened. This is the correct answer. The weaknesses of the central government were evident, leading to difficulties in governing the nation effectively. The inability to raise revenue, enforce laws, regulate commerce, and unify the states eventually led to the realization that a stronger central government was necessary.
Option D posits that the Articles of Confederation were only designed to last through the Revolutionary War. While it is true that the Articles were drafted during the Revolutionary War and were initially intended to govern the newly independent states, they were not meant to be a temporary solution. However, the shortcomings of the Articles became increasingly apparent as the nation faced post-war challenges, leading to the need for a more enduring and comprehensive system of government.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that had to be strengthened.