The Control of the States

Did the Founders want to keep the federal government under the control of the states or the states under the control of the federal government?

Answer: They wanted to keep the federal government under the control of the states. (One of the most serious erosions of the Constitution has been the gradual concentration of power in Washington, enabling the federal government to take action even when it is strongly opposed by most of the states. This in a great measure was accentuated by the passage of the 17th amendment.)