The Writing of the Bill of Rights When the Revolutionary War was over, the American colonists were free of the British. Since they were free from the British, they wanted to create their own system of government where tyranny would not be a problem. Originally the states were under the Articles of Confederation, but this document gave no power to the central government. So 55 white Protestant men meet in Philadelphia in 1787. Over a three month period, this document was heavily debated and discussed. The Anti-Federalists lead by Jefferson believed that the power that Congress had, was not safe sin