Final answer:
The textbook describes the states under the Articles of Confederation as having a superior power to the national government, often ignoring Congress's laws, which resulted in calls for a stronger federal government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The textbook describes the relationship among the states under the Articles of Confederation (AOC) as a "league of friendship" where the states held more power than the national government. The author points out that under the Articles of Confederation, states often had the authority to ignore the legislation that Congress passed. This resulted in a weakened national government that lacked the power to effectively manage various challenges such as handling debt, regulating commerce, and curtailing uprisings like Shays's Rebellion. Hence, the AOC is frequently characterized as the root cause that led to the demand for a stronger federal government, as later established by the U.S. Constitution.