Forming a National Government

In 1783, the 13 colonies became the United States. Before the war ended, the colonies had developed the Articles of Confederation. Each state had its own money, army, and navy. Each state traded and worked directly with other countries. Each state collected taxes in its own way. Each state believed its way was the right way. It was a nation of 13 countries.

In May 1787, 55 delegates met in Philadelphia. They knew about history, law, and political theory,  so they proposed a constitution describing a new form of government based on separate legislative, executive, and judicial authorities, but the problem was that  the delegates did not agree on all the details.

Some delegates wanted fewer people to have the right to vote; they believed that most people lacked the education to make good decisions. 

The Constitution provided the framework for the new government. The national government could create money, impose taxes, deal with foreign countries, keep an army, create a postal system, and wage war, constitution divided it into three equal parts—a legislature (Congress), an executive (president), and a judicial system (Supreme Court).

On September 17, 1787, most of the delegates signed the new Constitution. They agreed the Constitution would become the law of the United States when nine of the 13 states ratified, or accepted, it. 

It took about a year to ratify the Constitution. The country was divided into two groups. The Federalists wanted a strong central government. They supported the Constitution. The anti-Federalists wanted a loose group of states. They feared that a strong central government would become tyrannical. They were against the Constitution.