An essay about the process of the formation and ratification of the national government. The United States of America were born on July 4th, 1776 with the official Declaration of Independence, stating that the thirteen American colonies no longer regarded themselves part of the British empire, but instead as a new nation with sovereign independent states (A People and a Nation). Most see this specific event as the cause of a new unity within the nation, however, the Declaration and the adjoining formation of a new government, divided the people into different groups with different opinions regarding the latter, who would eventually have compromise to form the unity that the Founding Fathers were initially aiming for. Although the Declaration of Independence implied self-government by the people, the Second Continental Congress found it necessary to set up a national government, to monitor and regulate the thirteen states, but did grant each state its own sovereignty, freedom and independence (About American History). Some states wanted to vote, and be represented according to the proportion of their state, while others advocated that each state would get the equal amount of votes and representation. To please both parties, a compromise was made: they agreed to a one-house legislature with state-by-state voting, and based tax-burdens proportionally on land values, leaving the claims on western lands unresolved. Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey didn't agree with the latter and would only ratify if the other states would release their claims, which they did. Maryland was the last to agree, officially ratifying the Articles of Confederation in 1781 (Office of the Historian). The idea of a convention to review the Articles grew in favor and it became clear that a stronger central government was necessary: states pursued their own policies with foreign governments or argued amongst themselves. The nation had no economic stability, as