The Articles of Confederation did not provide the United States with an effective form of government. In their attempt to assemble a government unlike one of the British monarchy, the United States did just that, but failed to realize how hazardous a government that is too weak can be. The main weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the inability to levy taxes and regulate trade. Congress also could not pass needed measures because they lacked the needed nine state votes to pass amendments, the states just flat out refused congress at times, and was unable to carry out simple measures, and thus an ineffective form of government.
The main weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the inability to borrow money from the states. This was not only the biggest weakness, but also the most embarrassing factor for a new government, to be denied by its own states. The government could not force the states to pay them, and they flat out refused the government at times. Under the articles the government couldn't even force the states to comply with the Treaty of Paris, the treaty that ended the American Revolution. The Government could not even raise money to build an army to protect themselves. So while the purpose of not resembling the British system of government was fulfilled, the Unites states was controlled by the mainly by the states, there was no "united" part about us. While the states prospered by making profits by trading with other countries independently, some, such as Rhode Island, thought it was a bad idea for Congress to be able to make money by placing an impost on imported goods, because states like them relied heavily upon commerce. "Because, by granting Congress a power to collect moneys from the commerce of these states they would become independent of their constituents so the proposed impost is repugnant of the liberty of the United States"(Document A).