Question

When the Articles of Confederation was passed, the states were given more power than the national government. Why did this happen?

A. It was an accident that happened when writing the Articles of Confederation.

B. They told the British the government would be set up that way.

C. Americans did not trust strong national governments

D. Thomas Jefferson trusted state governments more than the Federal government.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. Americans did not trust strong national governments.

Step-by-step explanation:

At the time the Articles of Confederation were drafted and passed in 1781, many Americans were wary of a strong central government that could potentially become too powerful and oppressive, like the British government they had just fought a war against. As a result, the Articles of Confederation gave more power to the states, with a relatively weak central government that had limited authority and no power to tax or regulate commerce. This arrangement was seen as a way to protect individual liberties and prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals or a single governing body.

While the Articles of Confederation ultimately proved ineffective in governing the young United States and were replaced by the Constitution in 1789, the idea of limiting the power of the federal government and protecting individual rights and liberties has remained a fundamental principle of American governance.