The new federal government powers were strictly enumerated, with all other powers reserved to the States, who created them.
Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan, and the founders read him, Locke, others) talked about the tendency of power to seek more power. Following the 1860-1865 war and WWII, the feds started assuming powers they were never intended to have.
The framers, particularly the Anti-federalists in the big states, New York and Virginia, distrusted the notion of a strong central government.
They demanded a Bill of Rights the drafters didn’t think worthy of including. The Constitution was handwritten, it was too much trouble to re-write so they were appended.
Originally there were 12. Consider everything after the 10th (”All powers not delegated are reserved to the States”) as attempts by the federal government to usurp power from their Makers.
e.g. the 14th, a “Civil War amendment” was never intended to create ‘birthright citizenship’ or serve as a shelter for aliens here illegally. The Constitution isn’t a suicide pact.
Agreed. Very good assessment IMO. Wish others had the same grasp on the Constitution and the powers that have always tried to obliterate it.