In the midst of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers began planning a new government. Wary of overreach, they created a weak central government through the Articles of Confederation that proved ineffective at keeping the new nation united. Today, states' rights are still debated, and people have different opinions on how weak the central government should be. Full-color photographs, sidebars, and fascinating fact boxes highlight the reasons why the Articles of Confederation failed. This helps readers think critically about the current debate over weak versus strong central government, which is highlighted in enlightening discussion questions.