Why did the farmers establish a federal system of government for the united states

A federal system of government is one in which power is distributed between a central authority and smaller political units such as states. The framers of the Constitution designed a federal system because they thought it would prevent central government from having too much power.

the iconic cartoon that you are talking about is probably a man standing on top of a country with his legs spread wide. 

this cartoon suggests that europeans are powerful enough to subdue an entire continent. this was a satirical image that was drawn during the time of the colonization of the british empire in africa.

this image was inspired by the plans of the british empire to create telegraph lines all over africa promoting the further spread of its colonies through faster communication. the picture depicts the colonial mentality of the british empire in general as well as the struggle of africans to claim their own land. hope this ! (: