Final answer:
The Founding Fathers chose a confederation instead of a federal government because they did not want to give the national body any controlling power and risk tyranny. The Articles of Confederation were a deliberate attempt to limit the powers of the national government and protect individual liberties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Founding Fathers chose a confederation instead of a federal government for the nation's first outing primarily because they didn't trust giving the national body any controlling power. They had just experienced the abuses of power by the British government and wanted to ensure that the government they created would not become tyrannical. The Articles of Confederation, which established a weak central government, were a deliberate attempt to limit the powers of the national government in order to protect individual liberties.