Final answer:
The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government as American leaders feared centralized tyranny, giving most powers to individual states. It lacked executive and judicial branches and could not effectively manage national issues, which led to its replacement by the Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Articles of Confederation established the first national government of the United States but created a system where most power was left to the states. It was designed this way because of the significant fear of a centralized authority, which could lead to tyranny similar to what the former colonies experienced under British rule. The correct answer to the student's question is that the Articles of Confederation created a weak central government, reflecting early American leaders' fear of tyranny.
Under the Confederation, the government was unable to effectively deal with the issues facing the new nation, such as servicing war debt, addressing popular uprisings, and managing trade and commerce. The Articles gave limited authority to a central government, without creating separate executive or judicial branches to enforce laws and manage affairs.
By 1787, it became clear that revisions were necessary, leading to the Constitutional Convention where the current Constitution of the United States was drafted, creating a stronger federal government while maintaining important powers for the states.