Question

“The fundamental defect is a want [lack] of power in Congress. It is hardly worth while to show in what this consists as it seems to be universally acknowledged, or to point out how it has happened as the only question is how to remedy it...a diffidence [lack of confidence] in Congress of their own powers, by which they have been timid and indecisive in their resolutions, constantly making concessions to the states till they have scarcely left themselves the shadow of power.” - Alexander Hamilton, 1780

2a. From Hamilton’s point of view, what was a fundamental weakness of the Articles of Confederation? [1]

Answer 1

Congress didn’t have the power to enforce their own laws. Because of the fear of tyranny, the AOC was established to give more powers to the states than the federal government. While Congress could write laws, there was no Executive branch or authority to enforce the laws. Each state could except or reject the law, making congress, and the central government, ineffectual. The AOC would eventually fail and be replaced by the Constitution.