12. Which of the following was a primary problem with the system of government established in the Articles of Confederation?
Answer: A
The national government was weaker than the individual states.
The primary problem with the system of government established in the Articles of Confederation was that the national government was significantly weaker than the individual states. This weakness hindered the federal government's ability to effectively govern and respond to national issues.
A) The national government was weaker than the individual states.
This option accurately identifies the core issue with the Articles of Confederation. The national government lacked sufficient authority to enforce laws, regulate commerce, or impose taxes, leading to inefficiencies and difficulties in uniting the states under a common framework.
B) The judicial branch was too weak to check the power of the president.
This option is incorrect because the Articles of Confederation did not establish a separate executive branch or a strong judicial branch. The absence of a president and robust judiciary meant that there was no mechanism in place to check power, making this statement irrelevant to the primary problems of the Articles.
C) The national government held more power than all the states together.
This option is incorrect as it misrepresents the balance of power under the Articles of Confederation. In reality, the national government was significantly weaker than the states, which retained most of their sovereignty and authority.
D) The judicial branch became too strong and routinely rejected states' laws.
This option is also incorrect. The Articles of Confederation did not create a federal judicial system capable of overriding state laws, thus making it impossible for the judicial branch to become too strong or to reject state laws.
Conclusion
The correct answer, A, highlights the fundamental flaw in the Articles of Confederation: a national government that lacked the necessary power to function effectively. All other options fail to accurately describe the problems inherent in the Articles, focusing instead on nonexistent features or mischaracterizations of government powers. This weakness ultimately led to the need for a stronger federal system, resulting in the Constitution.