Dana Majewski Due September 28, 2011 Mr. Klaff AP US In 1776, when the United States declared independence from Great Britain, the new country needed a series of laws to apply to all states to replace the former British rule. Colonists, however, worried that if the United States gave too much power to the central government, state rights would vanish. Therefore, the first form of government, the Articles of Confederation, gave too much power to the states and not enough power to the central government. States could create their own currency and refuse federal taxes, which caused much tribulation and nearly destroyed the new country. In 1787, delegates from twelve states met to revise the articles of the Constitution to provide citizens with a stronger central government. However, instead of revising the articles, the constitution was drafted. The final document produced by the delegates involved major compromises, and ratification would help save the country from upheaval. The Articles of Confederation were created after 1776, when the thirteen colonies declared their freedom from England. The colonists still feared an all-powerful government that would once again destroy their natural rights. Therefore, the newly formed government had no central control to ensure order to the states. Power remained primarily in the states so as to create a country that was poorly connected and not fully united. Shays's Rebellion, the post-Revolutionary clash between New England farmers and merchants, tested the precarious institutions of the new republic. The rebellion broke out in Massachusetts in 1786 and was the new nation's first armed uprising. Daniel Shays was a poor farm... half paper... the central government had limited power. However, without a powerful governing body, the United States was falling into disrepair. Difficulties in the Articles of Confederation culminated in Shay's Rebellion and this demonstrated the need for a standing army, the ability of the federal government to collect taxes, and a common currency throughout the United States. Therefore, to help the United States reach its full potential as a successful nation, the Constitution was written. It envisaged a strong central government. Compromises with the document also helped power between different branches and states large and small. Shay's Rebellion caused the country to realize that the Articles of Confederation did not have the power to provide control of the entire United States. Shay's Rebellion made the country stronger by uniting through the Constitution.