The Nations 1st Government First of the First: States urged by leaders & 2nd Continental Congress to create constitutions
From Colonies to States: similarities Legislatures: make laws Bicameral legislatures Executives: enforce laws (governors) Judicial: Interpret laws Constitutions: plans for Government Bill of Rights Declaration, Magna Carta & English Bill of Rights
Calls for Unity: Massachusetts Constitution Three notable ways Model a framework government American’s Constitution
Confederation Government Articles of Confederation Our 1st constitution Went into effect 1781 Unicameral legislature Every state had one vote Control over army Authority to deal with foreign nations Positive outcomes of Government Ordinance of 1785: survey Northwest Ordinance of 1787: statehood for territories in west
Limitation of Government Could not enforce laws Could not tax Could not regulate trade No executive to direct policy No courts Congress couldn’t pass laws w/o 9/13 votes Congress couldn’t change w/o al 13 states
Weaknesses led to Shay’s Rebellion Farmer taxed to lose land Revolted Put down quickly Rebellion caused people to realize Articles of Confederation were not working for the colonist.
Shays’s Rebellion