The major downfall of the Articles of Confederation was simply weakness. The federal government, under the Articles, was too weak to enforce their laws and therefore had no power. The Continental Congress had borrowed money to fight the Revolutionary War and could not repay their debts.
(If I'm wrong, PLEASE let me know in the comments)
After the Battle of Bladensburg in Maryland, the British marched to Washington D.C. where they burned many public buildings including the White House. This was known as the "Burning of Washington."
