The Second Continental Congress established a weak central government under the Articles of Confederation primarily because the states wanted to maintain their sovereignty and avoid the kind of central authority they experienced under British rule. The new government was designed to be subordinate to the states with limited powers so as to prevent infringement on individual state rights and freedoms. There was a strong wariness about creating a powerful central government that could become tyrannical. Key reasons for the weak central government structure include:
- The states retained most of their sovereignty and independence.
- Congress had limited authority, and decisions needed supermajority or unanimous approval, making national legislation difficult.
- The central government could not directly tax citizens and could only request funds from the states.
- The government lacked the power to regulate trade, raise an army, or enforce laws effectively.
- The desire to avoid a strong executive or judiciary to prevent centralized power abuse.
These limitations reflected the distrust of centralized power due to past experiences with British rule and the desire for states to hold primary authority in governing themselves.
