Following the American Revolution, what did Congress fear about a strong central government?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the concerns that Congress had regarding a strong central government after the American Revolution. This involves exploring historical perspectives on governance and the reasons behind the desire for a decentralized power structure at that time.
Answer
Fear of losing individual rights and potential tyranny.
Congress feared that a strong central government might infringe upon individual rights and replicate the kind of tyranny from which they had just liberated themselves.
Answer for screen readers
Congress feared that a strong central government might infringe upon individual rights and replicate the kind of tyranny from which they had just liberated themselves.
More Information
The fear of a strong central government stemmed from their experiences under British rule, where centralized authority often led to abuses of power and suppression of rights.
Tips
One common mistake is assuming Congress wanted no central government whatsoever. They wanted a government that balanced power without overriding states' rights.
Sources
- The Articles of Confederation: 1777–1781 - Office of the Historian - history.state.gov
- The Constitution (1781–1815) - SparkNotes - sparknotes.com
- Challenges of the Articles of Confederation - Khan Academy - khanacademy.org
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