The Founding Fathers thought that the Articles of Confederation left the nation too weak. They decided to develop a new system of government. The Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation, made a stronger Federal Government. It gave power to both the Federal Government and the state governments. This system is called federalism.
Federal Government power to:
- Make money
- Declare war
- Manage foreign relations
- Oversee trade between states and with other countries
State Governments to do the following:
- Ratify amendments
- Manage public health and safety
- Oversee trade in the state
In addition, the Federal Government and State Governments share these powers:
- Making and enforcing laws
- Making taxes
- Borrowing money