3. What were the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? 4. Define: a. Virginia Plan - b. New Jersey Plan- c. Great Compromise -

3. Major Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation: a. Lack of Centralized Authority: The Articles created a weak central government with no power to enforce laws or collect taxes. b. No Executive Branch: There was no executive branch to enforce laws, execute decisions, or provide leadership. c. No National Currency: The lack of a national currency hindered economic stability and trade between states. d. Weak Military: The central government had no authority to maintain a standing army, making it difficult to defend the nation. e. No Power to Regulate Commerce: The Articles did not grant the central government the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, leading to economic issues.4. Definitions: a. Virginia Plan: The Virginia Plan was a proposal at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, put forward by the larger states. It advocated for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, favoring larger states. b. New Jersey Plan: The New Jersey Plan was another proposal at the Constitutional Convention, presented by smaller states. It called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of size. c. Great Compromise: The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a solution to the debate between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. It established a bicameral legislature with a Senate, where each state has equal representation, and a House of Representatives, with representation based on population. This compromise helped to address the concerns of both large and small states.