Answer:
The Articles of Confederation, which were effectively a contract among independent states, were superseded in 1787 by a new constitution accepted by the people directly in state conventions rather than by state legislatures. The Founders gave the national government powers it lacked under the Articles of Confederation and assured that it could act directly on behalf of the public without going through the state governments. However, the Founders believed that it was equally necessary to protect the states' sovereignty over their own inhabitants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Founders found this balance by providing the new national government only limited and specified powers and leaving intrastate commerce regulation to the states. The legislative powers of states were nearly entirely circumscribed by their respective constitutions.