Between October 1428 and May 1429, during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), the city of Orleans, France, was besieged by English forces. On May 8, 1429, Joan of Arc (1412-31), a teenage French peasant, successfully led a French force to break the siege.
I would say the most significant weaknesses of the government under the Articles of Confederation was the fact that the central government was too weak to enforce laws and couldn't impose taxes. The states had the most authority and since the government wasn't able to impose taxes, it doesn't have enough funds for a military (and it had to ask the states for troops). Without a strong military, it will be hard to defend the nation well if anything should occur.
Answer:
Unfair taxes on products and their rights as citizens
A war of attrition.
World War 1 is an example of this.