Question

What was the rationale of the founders for providing a limited government?

Answer 1

The founders of the United States believed in providing a limited government in order to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals or groups, and to protect the rights and freedoms of the citizens. They were influenced by the Enlightenment ideas of thinkers such as John Locke and Montesquieu, who argued that a government should be limited in its powers and should be based on the consent of the governed. The founders feared the potential for tyranny and abuse of power if government was allowed to become too powerful, and so they established a system of checks and balances, separation of powers, and a Bill of Rights to ensure that the rights of individuals were protected. By limiting the powers of government, they sought to preserve the liberties and autonomy of the people.