Question

which of the following were shortcomings of the articles of confederation?

foreign commerce suffered because the national government had too many restrictive policies.
the u.s. government had no power to intervene when radical factions began influencing some state governments.
the u.s. government could not enforce treaties.
it gave too much power to the president and the executive branch.

Explanation:

Analyze the powers of the national government under the Articles

The national government under the Articles of Confederation was intentionally kept weak. It lacked an executive branch (no president) and had no power to regulate interstate or foreign commerce, nor could it directly enforce treaties or raise a national army to intervene in domestic rebellions.

Evaluate each option against historical facts

• Foreign commerce suffered because the national government had too many restrictive policies: Incorrect. The national government had virtually no power to regulate commerce, meaning it could not impose restrictive national policies; rather, individual states set their own conflicting trade barriers.
• The U.S. government had no power to intervene when radical factions began influencing some state governments: Correct. The weakness of the central government (as highlighted by Shays' Rebellion) left it unable to maintain domestic order or intervene in state-level uprisings.
• The U.S. government could not enforce treaties: Correct. While the Confederation Congress could negotiate treaties, it lacked any executive or judicial mechanism to compel individual states to honor them.
• It gave too much power to the president and the executive branch: Incorrect. There was no independent executive branch or president under the Articles of Confederation.

Answer:

• The U.S. government had no power to intervene when radical factions began influencing some state governments. (Correct answer)
• The U.S. government could not enforce treaties. (Correct answer)
• Foreign commerce suffered because the national government had too many restrictive policies.
• It gave too much power to the president and the executive branch.