Correct Response: C. A major reason that supporters of the U.S. Constitution believed the Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced was that the government established by the Articles could not tax effectively, was unable to establish a uniform commercial policy for the nation, and lacked the power to force states to obey its rulings. Relations between the northern and southern states (A) were relatively amicable at the time. Nor did supporters of the Articles wish to infringe on the rights of states to establish governments based on the principle of popular sovereignty (B). As exemplified by the passage of the Northwest Ordinance, the government formed by the Articles was both willing and able to create territorial governments in the West (D).