What was a primary weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

The primary weakness of the Articles of Confederation was that the states had too much power. Under this framework, the federal government was intentionally designed to be weak to avoid the kind of oppressive central authority that the colonies had experienced under British rule. This decentralization meant that states operated almost as independent nations. They had their own currencies, could impose tariffs on goods from other states, and the national government lacked the power to effectively regulate commerce or enforce laws.

The inability to unify the states led to significant challenges, such as economic instability and difficulties in raising an army or collecting taxes. Each state had its own interests, which often conflicted with those of other states, making cohesive national governance nearly impossible. Thus, the excessive power granted to the states is seen as a fundamental flaw that ultimately prompted the drafting of the U.S. Constitution to create a stronger federal government.