What was the primary concern of the founding fathers when establishing the Articles of Confederation?

The primary concern of the founding fathers when establishing the Articles of Confederation was to create a system that preserved individual freedoms while ensuring a loose alliance among the states. The Articles were designed to limit the power of the national government, reflecting the founders' experiences under British rule, where they felt that a strong central authority could threaten individual liberties. Thus, the Articles emphasized state sovereignty and the autonomy of local governments, as the founders were wary of the potential for tyranny that could arise from a powerful central government. They sought to avoid centralization of power, believing that this was essential to protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals. This foundational concern influenced many aspects of governance that followed, including the later development of the U.S. Constitution, which attempted to strike a more effective balance between state and federal authority while still safeguarding individual rights.