Which constitutional principle was primarily intended for the purpose of limiting the powers of the central government?

The correct answer is separation of powers

Because there was fear of a strong central government that might be tyrannical, power was split between three groups and they could check and balance each other out. The judicial branch, the legislative branch, and the executive branch, or the courts, the congress, and the president, respectively. With their powers split, nobody would be powerful enough to be tyrannical.