The government created by the Articles of Confederation was intended to be weak. The Founding Fathers deliberately designed a weak central government because they feared a strong central authority might become tyrannical, similar to the British monarchy they had fought against during the American Revolution. Instead, the Articles placed most power in the hands of the states, emphasizing state sovereignty and limiting the powers of the national government. This weak central government had significant limitations, such as not being able to levy taxes, enforce laws, or effectively manage foreign affairs, which eventually led to its replacement by the stronger federal system under the U.S. Constitution.
