Why did the Continental Congress create a weak federal government under the Articles of Confederation?

The Continental Congress intentionally designed a weak federal government when it created the Articles of Confederation because there was a strong desire to protect the independence and sovereignty of the individual states. This desire stemmed from the recent experiences under British rule, where the central government was seen as oppressive and distant from the needs and rights of the colonies.

The leaders who drafted the Articles of Confederation were influenced by their fear of tyranny and the power that a strong central government could wield. They wanted to avoid replicating the centralized authority of the British monarchy and ensure that the states maintained their freedom and control over their own affairs.

As a result, the Articles of Confederation established a confederation of states, where the federal government had very limited powers. The national government could not levy taxes, regulate interstate or international trade, or impose laws directly upon the states or their citizens. Additionally, any significant changes to the Articles required a unanimous vote of all thirteen states, making it very difficult to correct any issues within the government framework.

The weaknesses in the federal government under the Articles of Confederation became apparent over time, including financial difficulty due to the inability to collect taxes and challenges in coordinating a collective response to international threats or internal disputes. These issues ultimately led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where the current Constitution of the United States was drafted, creating a stronger federal government with more balanced powers between the states and the national government.