What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• A. It allowed for extensive state military forces
• B. It provided for a strong executive branch
• C. It lacked the power to tax and regulate commerce
• D. It required unanimous consent for amendments

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is that the national government under the Articles of Confederation could not raise money or manage trade effectively. Because Congress had no power to tax, it depended on asking states for funds, which many states refused or provided sparingly. That left the government短unable to pay debts, fund the army, or run operations, and it weakened foreign diplomacy and national security. At the same time, without authority to regulate commerce between states, there was no unified market; states imposed their own duties and barriers, which stifled economic growth and created constant disputes.

This combination—no power to levy taxes and no power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce—made the central government weak and incapable of solving national problems. The other issues listed—such as the absence or weakness of an executive or the reliance on unanimous consent to amend—were real weaknesses, but they are not as directly crippling to the government’s ability to raise revenue and regulate trade, which is why this option is the best answer.