How did the Articles of Confederation reflect American fears of a strong central government?

 The Articles of Confederation reflected American fears of a strong central government in several ways. After gaining independence from Great Britain, American leaders were wary of creating another system that could potentially become tyrannical and oppressive. The experiences under British rule had deeply influenced their attitudes towards government. Consequently, they designed the Articles of Confederation to ensure that the federal government would not be too powerful and that the individual states would retain a high degree of sovereignty.

Here are a few specific ways in which the Articles of Confederation reflect those fears:

1. Limited Powers of Congress: The Congress under the Articles had very few powers. It could not regulate commerce or impose taxes, which meant it was difficult for the government to generate revenue and regulate trade between states and with foreign nations.

2. No Executive Branch: The Articles of Confederation did not provide for an executive branch. There was no president to enforce laws or provide leadership in times of crisis. The lack of a centralized executive was intentional, to prevent the rise of a figure with monarchical powers.

3. No National Judiciary: There was no national court system under the Articles. The absence of federal courts meant that there was no way to resolve disputes between states or between the states and the national government, except through diplomacy or, potentially, force.

4. Each State Retained Sovereignty: The Articles stated, "Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence." This line encapsulates the intent to keep the central government from infringing on the powers of the individual states.

5. Amendments Required Unanimity: Any amendments to the Articles required the unanimous consent of all 13 states. This extremely high threshold made it very difficult to correct any issues with the Articles and ensured that the central government couldn't easily increase its power.

6. Equal Representation Regardless of Size: Each state had one vote in the Congress of the Confederation, regardless of its size or population. This prevented more populous states from dominating the government.

These aspects of the Articles show the high level of caution the American leaders had towards centralization of power, reflecting their fears based on their colonial experiences.