Which statement BEST describes the power of government provided by the Articles of Confederation?
The power of government provided by the Articles of Confederation was limited and decentralized.
The power of government provided by the Articles of Confederation was primarily limited and decentralized.
To determine the BEST statement describing the power of government provided by the Articles of Confederation, we need to consider the content of the Articles themselves.
The Articles of Confederation was the first governing document of the United States, adopted in 1781 and in effect until 1789 when it was replaced by the U.S. Constitution. The Articles established a decentralized system with limited powers given to the national government.
Here are the possible statements:
1. The government had a strong central authority.
This statement is incorrect because the Articles intentionally created a weak central government. The framers feared the concentration of power that they had experienced under British rule, and thus aimed to prevent creating another strong central authority.
2. The government had the power to impose taxes and regulate trade.
This statement is partially correct. The national government under the Articles had the authority to regulate trade between the states, but it did not have the power to impose taxes. This was a significant weakness of the Articles as it limited the government's ability to raise revenue and manage the nation's finances effectively.
3. The government had the authority to raise an army and declare war.
This statement is correct. The Articles did grant the national government the power to raise an army and declare war. However, due to its limited powers, the government struggled to effectively exercise this authority, which hindered its ability to respond to threats and crises.
4. The government had the authority to establish a judicial system.
This statement is partially correct. The Articles did set up a system for settling disputes between states, known as the Committee of the States, but it did not establish a unified national judicial system.
Based on the above analysis, the statement that BEST describes the power of government provided by the Articles of Confederation is:
The government had the authority to raise an army and declare war.