George Washington once said, “Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it's strength. Like fire, he is a dangerous servant and a fearful master” (“George Washington Quotes”). That's right, the government is not the reason, since no one really knows what is "good" and what is "bad", it's just a matter of opinion. The government that holds power over so many lives can be dangerous; the government is definitely a force. This force is made up of ideas that constitute the governing power of nations, including the United States, in the face of the struggles countries face daily. This “force” or “motive” for what was “right” in the early United States is what helped the United States become the strong nation it is today. Despite its independence from Great Britain, the United States faced many obstacles that threatened the stability of the young nation. For example, one of the major obstacles the new nation faced was the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation. Under the Articles of Confederation, the states held the majority of power and no power was associated with a centralized federal government. To succeed, a nation needs a strong central government to manage international affairs, regulate laws, control taxes, and manage the national debt. Since all states had conflicting ideas, opinions, and needs, none of these responsibilities could be fulfilled, threatening stability and making the nation appear weak in the eyes of other world powers. Due to this lack of a national government, most citizens were forced to pay extremely high taxes and, as a result, were extremely angry. This anger over taxes sparked Shays Rebellion, as farmers rebelled against the outrageous taxes – sometimes higher than… middle of paper…… shadowing the force they would become. Early in the development of the United States, the founding of the new nation demonstrated strength and good morals to create a prosperous and supreme nation, which it continues to be to this day. George Washington was right when he said, “Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can conform; the rest is in G-d's hands” (George Washington Quotes). Works Cited “George Washington Quotes.” BrainyQuote. Xplore and Web. January 3, 2014. Moschella, Tairran. "Articles of Confederation and Shays' Rebellion." United States History I Honors Class Files.Web. January 3, 2014. Moschella, Tairran. “Case Study #6 – Western Lands”. United States History I Honors. Morris County School of Technology. January 3, 2014. Print.Moschella, Tairran. “Shay’s Rebellion.” United States History I Honors. Morris County School of Technology. January 3, 2014. Print.