No longer being under Bristish rule, each colony became its own separate state. Eight of the states implaced their own constitutions giving the citizens their rights as granted by God and state. The colonies became part of a Confederation soon after and the cumulative states created the Articles of Confederation. The articles gave the states many powers. Among local state governments, a national government was also created by the articles.
The national government was made to be weak and tiny in comparison to state governments because of fears that giving one man or group too much power would re-instate another tyranny. That was the main concern for the colonies. Congress was only granted ten powers by the words of the articles. All other powers were reserved to the states alone.