The Articles of Confederation represented the Americans' distrust of

The Articles of Confederation, created during the early years of American independence, represented the Americans' profound distrust of a strong central government. Following their experience with British rule, in which they suffered from oppressive governance and a lack of representation, the framers of the Articles aimed to establish a decentralized system. They were apprehensive that a powerful national government could lead to tyranny akin to that of King George III.

The Articles prioritized state sovereignty, granting states considerable authority while providing the national government with minimal powers, primarily concerning foreign diplomacy and shared military defense. This structure reflected a collective desire to prevent any individual or group from gaining excessive power. However, this extreme caution ultimately resulted in significant weaknesses, including the inability to levy taxes or regulate commerce effectively, highlighting the need for a more balanced approach, which eventually led to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.