Identify the reason for the failure of the Articles of Confederation.
The government has the power to declare war.
The government could not enforce the laws on the individual states.
It had a Bill of Rights
The leaders could not get the states to send delegates to the Continental Congress.
The government could not enforce the laws on the individual states is the reason for the failure of the Articles of Confederation.
The main reason for the failure of the Articles of Confederation was that the government could not enforce its laws on the individual states. Although the Articles of Confederation granted the government the power to declare war, it lacked the authority to enforce its decisions on the states, which resulted in a weak central government. Another contributing factor was that the leaders struggled to get the states to send delegates to the Continental Congress, leading to a lack of participation and representation in the government. Additionally, it is worth noting that the Articles of Confederation did not have a Bill of Rights, which also contributed to its failure.
The reason for the failure of the Articles of Confederation can be identified by analyzing the options provided. Let's go through each option and determine its validity:
1. The government has the power to declare war: This statement is true, but it does not directly explain the failure of the Articles of Confederation. While the inability of the central government to effectively manage and fund a military force was a problem, it was not the main reason for its failure.
2. The government could not enforce laws on the individual states: This claim is a key factor contributing to the Articles of Confederation's failure. Under this system, the central government lacked the power to enforce its laws on the individual states. This weakness resulted in difficulties in collecting taxes, regulating trade, and maintaining law and order.
3. It had a Bill of Rights: This statement is incorrect. The Articles of Confederation did not include a Bill of Rights. It is worth noting that the absence of a Bill of Rights did not directly lead to the Articles' failure, as the primary issues lay in the weak central government and its inability to function effectively.
4. The leaders could not get the states to send delegates to the Continental Congress: This statement is partially true. The lack of attendance and participation by state delegates in the Continental Congress was indeed a problem. However, it is important to note that this issue was a symptom of the deeper flaw in the Articles of Confederation, namely the weak central government that lacked authority and resources to effectively address the concerns of the states.
In summary, the main reason for the failure of the Articles of Confederation was the central government's inability to enforce laws on the individual states, leading to a lack of cohesion and effectiveness.