Final answer:
If states had more authority than the federal government, the U.S. could face increased disunity, economic inefficiency, and a weakened defense, reflecting the challenges seen under the Articles of Confederation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a scenario where every state has more authority than the federal government, the United States could experience decreased national cohesion, hindered interstate commerce, and reduced international standing. The federal system is designed to balance the distribution of power to ensure national unity and effective governance. State-specific priorities could take precedence over national interests, potentially leading to fragmented policies and discordant regulations across state lines.
When states are overly powerful, they may create their own trade rules and deal with social welfare disparities differently, which could result in inequalities and inefficiencies. Moreover, a weaker federal government could struggle to maintain defense, manage foreign policies, and support national infrastructure. Historically, the Articles of Confederation revealed such challenges, with states retaining too much independence, leaving the national government incapable of resolving disputes, uprisings, and external threats effectively.
The foresight by Constitutional framers to strengthen the federal government was in part due to the need for a more unified defense, capacity to govern interstate matters, and ability to maintain a sustainable economic system. Individual states having excessive power may undercut these functions, leading to a fragmented nation rather than a united one, unable to adequately safeguard the best interests of the country as a whole.