Question

Why did the Founding Fathers create a government based on federalism?

Federalism in the United States:
• Enumerated Powers (those assigned to the national government)
• Reserved Powers (those assigned to the states)
• Concurrent Powers (those shared by national and state governments)
A.to prevent policy disputes between levels of government
B.to allow state control over national issues
C.to limit the power of the national government
D.to write a document that was difficult to change

Answer 1

The Founding Fathers adopted federalism to create a balanced system that would limit the power of the national government while preserving states' rights and ensuring a strong union. It provided a structure for sharing power across different levels of government, addressing both local and national concerns.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Founding Fathers created a government based on federalism to balance the needs of a unified national government with the preservation of states' autonomy. The Constitution defines enumerated powers for the national government, reserved powers for the states, and concurrent powers shared by both. This system was chosen to limit the power of the national government (C) while ensuring a strong central authority capable of uniting the diverse and expanding nation. By setting these boundaries, the Founding Fathers integrated the rule of law and the principle of limited government into the governmental system.

James Madison, in Federalist Paper No. 45, described the national powers as "few and defined" and state powers as "numerous and indefinite". This ensured that most government control remained local while the national government addressed issues that required a broader perspective. The Constitution's federal framework thus aims to strike a careful balance between decentralized state authority and necessary centralized governance.