“Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right… The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare…”—United States Articles of Confederation, 1781 The authors of this quote were most likely concerned about
A. the state governments having too much power B.establishing efficient government services C.establishing unity among state governments D.the central government having too much power
C. establishing unity among state governments
C. establishing unity among state governments
To determine the most likely concern of the authors of this quote, it is important to analyze the context of the quote and understand the historical background of the United States Articles of Confederation.
The United States Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1781, served as the first constitution of the United States. During this period, the newly formed United States was transitioning from being a collection of individual states to a cohesive nation. The Articles of Confederation aimed to establish a framework for the organization and governance of the country.
Based on the quote provided, it suggests that the authors were concerned about maintaining the sovereignty and independence of each state while also fostering unity among them. This concern is reflected in phrases such as "each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence" and "a firm league of friendship with each other."
Therefore, the most likely concern of the authors of this quote was D. the central government having too much power. They wanted to strike a balance between the powers and autonomy of individual states and the need for a centralized authority to address common defense, secure liberties, and promote the general welfare.