The 13 states wanted a weak national government because
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7 points
they'd just left a strong government of British rule and feared if they created another strong national government, it would be like Great Britain
they were not aware of how many states would need a central government, so they could not adequately prepare
they believed that a weak central government would offer more individual freedoms and prevent the concentration of power
they wanted to preserve the power and authority of individual states
they believed that a strong national government would infringe upon their rights and limit their ability to govern themselves
they saw a weak national government as a way to prevent tyranny and protect against potential abuses of power
they wanted to ensure that the states had significant authority to make their own laws and decisions without interference from a central authority.
The 13 states wanted a weak national government because:
1. They had just left a strong government of British rule: The states had recently fought a war for independence from Great Britain, which had a strong central government. They were wary of creating a new strong national government that could potentially have the same abuses and limitations as the British government.
2. Fear of a strong national government: The states feared that a powerful central government might become tyrannical and abuse its authority. They wanted to avoid putting too much power in the hands of a single government entity and preferred a more decentralized system where power was distributed among the states.
3. Desire to protect state sovereignty: The states valued their own sovereignty and wanted to maintain a significant degree of independence. They were concerned that a strong central government might encroach upon their rights and interests, and they wanted to ensure that the states retained the ability to govern themselves.
4. Lack of trust among states: The states had different interests and priorities, and there was a lack of trust among them. Some states were concerned that a strong national government would be controlled by other states, potentially disregarding their needs and preferences. A weaker national government was seen as a way to protect their individual interests.
5. Lack of a clear understanding of the future: At the time the Constitution was being drafted, the states did not have a clear understanding of how many states would eventually be formed and how many would need a central government. This uncertainty made it difficult for them to determine the appropriate level of power to grant to a national government.
6. Preference for local control: The states wanted to maintain a significant level of control over their own affairs. They believed that decisions made at the local level would better reflect the interests and values of their respective states, rather than decisions made by a distant, centralized authority.
7. Desire to limit potential abuses of power: The states wanted to prevent the central government from becoming too powerful and potentially abusing its authority. They believed that a weaker national government would be less likely to infringe upon individual liberties and less prone to corruption or authoritarianism.
The 13 states wanted a weak national government because they had just left a strong government of British rule and feared that creating another strong national government would result in a similar situation to Great Britain. This fear was based on their experience of being under the control of a centralized authority with significant power. They were concerned that a powerful central government could potentially become too controlling or oppressive, limiting the individual freedoms and rights they had fought for during the Revolutionary War.
In addition to their concerns about a strong government, the states were also not fully aware of how many states would require a central government. At the time of the formation of the United States, there was uncertainty about the future expansion of the country and the number of states that would eventually join. Without a clear understanding of the future size and needs of the nation, it would have been challenging for the states to adequately prepare for a strong central government that could accommodate all the potential future states.
As a result, the Founding Fathers of the United States aimed to establish a decentralized system of government with limited powers given to the national government. They wanted to ensure that individual states retained a significant degree of autonomy and had the ability to govern themselves according to their unique needs and priorities. This approach was reflected in the Articles of Confederation, the first Constitution of the United States, which deliberately established a weak central government with limited authority. Ultimately, the weaknesses of this initial system led to the drafting and adoption of the U.S. Constitution in order to create a more balanced and effective system of government.