2. States' rights. The states had just gained their independence from Britain, and they were reluctant to give up any of their power to a central government. They feared that a strong national government would encroach on their sovereignty and autonomy.
3. Economic interests. Different regions of the country had different economic interests. For example, the North was primarily engaged in commerce and manufacturing, while the South was primarily engaged in agriculture. A strong national government could potentially favor the interests of one region over the other, which would harm the economic interests of the other region.
4. Political ideology. Many Americans were influenced by the political philosophy of republicanism, which emphasized the importance of individual liberty and limited government. They believed that a strong national government would be incompatible with republican principles and would lead to corruption and tyranny.
5. Lack of trust. Many Americans had little trust in government in general. They had seen how the British government had abused its power, and they were skeptical that a new government would be any different. They believed that it was better to keep the government weak and limited in its power so that it could not do too much harm.