Final answer:
The authors of the Articles of Confederation were influenced by the desire to create a government distinct from the British monarchy, emphasizing state sovereignty and a limited central government. They were also inspired by the Iroquois Confederacy's political system, and the need for a stronger federal government was later recognized, prompting figures like James Wilson to push for the development of the United States Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that had a major influence on the authors of the Articles of Confederation was the desire to form a government that differed significantly from the British monarchy, which they had fought against during the Revolutionary War. They sought to establish a decentralized form of government that emphasized the primacy of state sovereignty and limited the powers of a central authority. The Articles of Confederation consequently reflected their fears of a powerful national government, resulting in a national government that lacked independent powers such as the ability to tax, pay down the national debt, or raise an army effectively.
Inspiration was also drawn from other sources such as the political system and democratic principles of the Iroquois Confederacy, as well as the writings on government and philosophy that were available to the founders during that time. A significant force for this movement towards a new constitution, that would eventually replace the Articles of Confederation, was the realization that a stronger federal government was necessary to ensure the security, harmony, and prosperity of the states united.
Figures such as James Wilson and George Washington played a crucial role in advocating for a new, stronger federal constitution, leading to the development of the United States Constitution, which incorporated many of the democratic principles the authors admired in other systems and addressed the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation.