Why did the Articles of Confederation limit the power of the federal government?

Question

to make European nations happy
to prevent the federal government from gaining too much power
to prevent conflicts between the states
to encourage the states to make their own governments
choose all that apply

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

• to prevent the federal government from gaining too much power
• to encourage the states to make their own governments

The Articles of Confederation were designed to create a weak federal government, reflecting the colonists' fear of a strong central authority that could overreach and infringe on states' rights, as they had experienced under British rule. The limitation of federal power was intended to ensure that states retained significant autonomy and the ability to govern themselves. However, it did not specifically aim to make European nations happy or prevent conflicts between the states. In fact, the lack of federal power under the Articles often led to conflicts that the central government was unable to address.