After the American Revolution, the thirteen colonies needed a government. The first set of rules, called the Articles of Confederation, was too weak. The national government could not collect taxes or raise an army. In 1787, leaders met in Philadelphia to write a new plan. The result was the Constitution. But writing it was only half the battle. Each state had to ratify, or officially approve, the document before it could take effect. The rule was that nine of the thirteen states had to agree. Not everyone was happy with the Constitution. Some people worried it gave the national government too much power. Others wanted a Bill of Rights to guarantee basic freedoms. Supporters of the Constitution, called Federalists, argued the country would fall apart without a stronger government. On May 23, 1788, South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify. Its leaders saw the economic benefits of joining a united country. South Carolina's ports, especially Charleston, depended on trade with other states and countries. Being part of a stronger union meant better protection for that trade. With South Carolina's vote, only one more state was needed to make the Constitution the law of the land.