Final answer:
The revolutionary era's ideals of self-governance and fear of centralized power shaped the Articles of Confederation, creating a weak central government that underscored state sovereignty, but also led to inefficiency and instability, setting the stage for the U.S. Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ideas and experiences of the revolutionary era significantly influenced the principles embodied in the United States under the Articles of Confederation. The drive for self-governance and fears stemming from British colonial rule led the revolutionaries to establish a government that strongly favored state sovereignty over a central authority. The Articles of Confederation was the embodiment of this mindset, creating a loose union of states with a weak central government. Reeling from the experiences with British oppression, the drafters of the Articles deliberately avoided a powerful central government, preventing it from enforcing laws, collecting taxes, or maintaining a standing army without the consent of the states.
The notion of "no taxation without representation" was a radical call for self-governance, and the formation of state governments reflected ideas of republicanism and democracy. However, the Articles' lack of central authority led to crises such as an inability to manage economic downturns, ineffective governance, and events like Shays' Rebellion. These crises highlighted the Articles' weaknesses, spurring debate and eventually leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, with its stronger federal government.