Why did the Founding Fathers choose to adopt a Constitution? (1 point) Responses to give states rights within the nation to give states rights within the nation to give individuals rights within their states to give individuals rights within their states to outline the powers of a new federal government to outline the powers of a new federal government to limit the powers of the existing federal government
All of the following responses are correct to varying degrees:
- To give states rights within the nation: The Founding Fathers wanted to strike a balance between a strong central government and the sovereignty of individual states, as they feared a concentration of power. They adopted the Constitution to establish a federal system that granted certain powers to the national government while preserving the autonomy of the states.
- To give individuals rights within their states: One of the main motivations behind adopting the Constitution was to protect individual liberties and establish a framework for the protection of basic rights. The Bill of Rights was later added to explicitly outline certain individual rights.
- To outline the powers of a new federal government: The Constitution was necessary to establish a framework for the new federal government that would replace the ineffective Articles of Confederation. It defined the powers and functions of the three branches of government, namely the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, thus ensuring a separation of powers.
- To limit the powers of the existing federal government: The Founding Fathers sought to address the weaknesses of the existing federal government under the Articles of Confederation, which lacked sufficient authority to effectively address national issues. The Constitution aimed to create a stronger national government but also established checks and balances to limit its power and safeguard against tyranny.