Final answer:
The claim that big states wanted a weak national government to protect state powers is false; they actually wanted a strong central government with representation by population. Small states preferred equal representation and some power independent of the central government, leading to a federal system compromise.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that big states with higher populations felt that the national government should remain weak to protect the powers of the state governments is false. In contrast, it was delegates from the smaller states who wanted to protect state powers and were content with equal representation for all states.
The big states generally wanted a stronger national government with legislative representation based on population, as envisioned by influential figures such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. These nationalists argued that a stronger central government was necessary for the country's success in diplomatic and domestic affairs.
The eventual outcome was a compromise forming a federal system of government, balancing powers between the national and state governments.
The statement is true. During the deliberations over the power of the national and state governments, proponents of the rights of the states, mainly from smaller states, believed that the national government should remain weak to protect the powers of the state governments.