Why did the Articles of Confederation give most powers to the states?

Answer 1

The Articles of Confederation created the foundation for the first US government after the Revolutionary War, and many of the decisions for its organization were rooted in the fear of supplanting England's monarchy with one of our own. The Founding Fathers knew some form of central government would be beneficial to all of them, but the states wanted to retain sovereignty over their individual territories.

There were two groups debating how to balance power between a central government and the states. The Conservatives wanted a strong central government because they feared anarchy among the states; the Radicals wanted the states to have primary control because they feared replacing one strong central government with another would defeat the purpose of the Revolution.

The Radicals held their ground and insisted the balance of power rest with the states. Once the War with Great Britain ended, they saw no reason for the Continental Congress to have any form of supremacy, and believed ceding authority would be detrimental to their democratic ideals.

Article II of the Articles of Confederation reflects the Radicals' thinking. The Articles of Confederation stripped the Second Continental Congress of most power, including the ability to tax or raise armies.

Article II

"Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled."

After a decade living under a confederacy, it became clear the Articles of Confederation created as many problems as they solved. This lead the Second Continental Congress to authorize state delegates to resolve these problems by amending the Articles, at the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. The result of this attempt was the US Constitution, which laid the foundation for the second organized US government.

Answer 2

The Articles of Confederation created the foundation for the first US government after the Revolutionary War, and many of the decisions for its organization were rooted in the fear of supplanting England's monarchy with one of our own. The Founding Fathers knew some form of central government would be beneficial to all of them, but the states wanted to retain sovereignty over their individual territories.

There were two groups debating how to balance power between a central government and the states. The Conservatives wanted a strong central government because they feared anarchy among the states; the Radicals wanted the states to have primary control because they feared replacing one strong central government with another would defeat the purpose of the Revolution.

The Radicals held their ground and insisted the balance of power rest with the states. Once the War with Great Britain ended, they saw no reason for the Continental Congress to have any form of supremacy, and believed ceding authority would be detrimental to their democratic ideals.

Article II of the Articles of Confederation reflects the Radicals' thinking. The Articles of Confederation stripped the Second Continental Congress of most power, including the ability to tax or raise armies.

Article II

"Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled."

After a decade living under a confederacy, it became clear the Articles of Confederation created as many problems as they solved. This lead the Second Continental Congress to authorize state delegates to resolve these problems by amending the Articles, at the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. The result of this attempt was the US Constitution, which laid the foundation for the second organized US government.