Final answer:
True, Congress and the states had different powers under the Articles of Confederation. States held more power while the national government had limited authority. The Constitutional Convention aimed to revise the Articles but instead created a new Constitution. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Congress and the states enjoyed different powers under the Articles of Confederation is indeed true. Before the ratification of the Constitution, the state governments held far more power compared to the national government. This was a deliberate choice made during the formation of the Articles of Confederation, as the drafters wanted to preserve the independence and authority of the states over a centralized government.
The national government, under the Articles, was given limited powers, such as the ability to make treaties, declare war, coin currency, and settle disputes between states but lacked a unified executive branch and federal court system.
One illustration of the limitations on central authority can be seen in the requirements for amending the Articles themselves. Any changes required the unanimous approval of all thirteen states. This structured balance of power was thought to help maintain a sense of equality among the states, regardless of size or population, and prevent the development of a potentially tyrannical central government.
However, the reality was that these limitations led to a weak national government that struggled to function effectively.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 initially aimed to revise the Articles of Confederation but ultimately decided to write an entirely new constitution, leading to the current framework of the U.S. government we have today.