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 very little power and control over the states. The lack of a strong central government led to many problems, such as economic issues, interstate conflicts, and difficulty effectively dealing with foreign powers. As a result, the Constitution was created to establish a stronger federal government that could more effectively govern the country.
The correct answer is C. The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that had to be strengthened.
To arrive at this answer, we need to understand the reasons behind the necessity for replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution.
1. The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government: Under the Articles, the central government had limited powers and lacked the authority to enforce laws or regulate interstate commerce. This lack of centralized power made it challenging to address national issues effectively.
2. Difficulties in raising revenue: The Articles gave the central government no power to levy taxes, relying instead on voluntary contributions from the states. This led to numerous financial issues, including the inability to pay off war debts and support a standing army.
3. No executive branch: The Articles did not establish an executive branch, such as a president, which resulted in a lack of strong leadership to guide and coordinate the government's actions.
4. Lack of unity and coordination among states: Each state had its own sovereign power and could implement its own policies, which often clashed with one another. This resulted in economic disputes, conflicts over trade and tariffs, and difficulties in negotiating treaties.
5. Inefficient decision-making process: The Articles required unanimous consent from all thirteen states to pass legislation, making it challenging to reach agreements and take prompt action on important matters.
Given these shortcomings, it became evident that the central government needed more power and the ability to effectively address national issues. Therefore, the Constitutional Convention was convened to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new framework, which resulted in the drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution.
C.
The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that had to be strengthened.