* Lack of a strong central government. The Articles of Confederation created a very weak central government. The federal government could not tax, regulate interstate commerce, or maintain a standing army. This made it difficult for the government to address national problems.
* Unfair representation. Each state had one vote in the Continental Congress, regardless of its population. This meant that small states had just as much power as large states. This was unfair to large states, which had a larger population and paid more taxes.
* Inability to resolve disputes between states. The Articles of Confederation did not provide a way for the federal government to resolve disputes between states. This led to several conflicts between states, including the Whiskey Rebellion.
* Lack of a national currency. The Articles of Confederation did not authorize the federal government to create a national currency. This made it difficult for businesses to operate across state lines.
* Inability to regulate trade. The Articles of Confederation did not give the federal government the power to regulate trade between states. This led to trade wars between states.
These weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation made it difficult for the United States to function as a nation. The Articles of Confederation were eventually replaced by the Constitution, which created a stronger central government.