Why did the Founding fathers choose a federal system of government when they established the USA?

Answer 1

Most people at that time considered the states to be precisely that, separate and soveriegn countries. The United States of America was just an alliance of these countries. It was obvious that if the states were goping to prosper and maintain their independence then they were going to have to work more closely together and that meant giving up some power, some aspects of soveriegnty, to a central government. But they did not want their separate countries to be completely absorbed into a new superstate, they wanted them to remain as independent as possible. Federalism was the logical compromise that allowed both of these seemingly incompatible goals to be achieved.Michael Montagne

Answer 2

Not all of the Founding Fathers believed in a federal system, and for many of those who did, it was simply seen as the best option at the time. The country had experienced a weak federal government under the Articles of Confederation, and the results were disastrous. Many came to believe that a stronger federal government was the solution.