Question

A. what two opposite experiences of governmental power shaped the founders' approach to the constitution?

Answer 1

Experiences with the British monarchy made them worry that the government would have too much power but they created a weak government under the Articles of Confederation.
The experiences with the British showed us how a government would be transformed into a tyranny if it left unchecked/unregulated.
But since at that time we're too paranoid about this, we instead create a government that basically couldn't operate since ther are too much limitation the congress.