What did national leaders think of the articles of confederation?

National leaders generally viewed the Articles of Confederation as inadequate for effectively governing the fledgling United States. They believed it created a weak central government that lacked the authority to regulate commerce, levy taxes, or maintain a standing army. This ineffectiveness led to issues such as economic instability and difficulties in foreign relations, prompting leaders like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton to advocate for a stronger federal framework, ultimately resulting in the Constitutional Convention of 1787.