Question

what was one reason the articles of confederation were not successful?

a. westward expansion was not allowed.

b. the president was given too much power.

c. congress could not tax.

d. congress had the power to negotiate treaties.

Explanation:

To determine the reason the Articles of Confederation were unsuccessful, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Westward expansion was allowed under the Articles, so this is incorrect.
• Option B: The Articles had no president (a weak central government), so this is wrong.
• Option C: Congress lacked the power to tax under the Articles, which meant the government couldn't raise revenue effectively, contributing to its failure. This is correct.
• Option D: While Congress could negotiate treaties, this was not a reason for the Articles' failure; the lack of other powers (like taxation) was a bigger issue.

Answer:

C. Congress could not tax.