Random Fact of the Day  Wedding rings date back thousands of years. Romans and Egyptians both believed that a vein called the vena amoris ran directly from the ring finger to the heart.

Chapter 3, Section 1 The Nation’s First Governments

Main Idea  Americans faced the task of forming independent states and eventually passed the Articles of Confederation.

I. First State Constitutions Before the Declaration, colonists started planning state constitutions to replace old charters. A. Before the Declaration, colonists started planning state constitutions to replace old charters. New Hampshire (1776) became the first state to draft a constitution. B. New Hampshire (1776) became the first state to draft a constitution. a written plan for government. C. Constitution- a written plan for government.

State legislatures decided THEY would make their own laws*** ***State legislatures decided THEY would make their own laws*** Most state legislatures were bicameral D. Most state legislatures were bicameral 1. - two house legislature. 1. Bicameral- two house legislature. Most state constitutions included a bill of rights. E. Most state constitutions included a bill of rights. ***Things such as trial by jury, protection of personal property, can be traced back to Magna Carta (1215)***

II. The Articles of Confederation States were prepared to govern themselves but states could not do a few important things A. States were prepared to govern themselves but states could not do a few important things Maintain Army 1. Maintain Army 13 separate colonial armies needed to be joined as one for any chance to defeat England separate colonial armies needed to be joined as one for any chance to defeat England.

group of state governments banding together for a common purpose. B. Confederation- group of state governments banding together for a common purpose. Articles established “league of friendship” among the 13 colonies and by 1781 all 13 had ratified. C. Articles established “league of friendship” among the 13 colonies and by 1781 all 13 had ratified. To approve. D. Ratify- To approve.

Articles set up: E. Articles set up: One house legislature (Unicameral) 1. One house legislature (Unicameral) Each state = 1 vote 2. Each state = 1 vote Weak central government 3. Weak central government Article Accomplishments F. Article Accomplishments Established a national government 1. Established a national government bought land to obtain present day Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. 2. Ordinance of bought land to obtain present day Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

laid the ground work for the organization of the newly purchased land. 3. Northwest Ordinance- laid the ground work for the organization of the newly purchased land. Outlawed slavery in the region. 4. Outlawed slavery in the region. Greatly expanded America. 5. Greatly expanded America.

G. Weaknesses of Articles: 1. 9/13 states had to agree to pass new laws 1. 9/13 states had to agree to pass new laws 2. Any change to the Articles required 13/13 states to amend. 2. Any change to the Articles required 13/13 states to amend. 3. Congress could not enforce laws. 3. Congress could not enforce laws. 4. Congress could not tax or collect money. 4. Congress could not tax or collect money. 5. States had too much power!!! 5. States had too much power!!!

Peace agreement that ended the Revolutionary war (1783). H. Treaty of Paris- Peace agreement that ended the Revolutionary war (1783). Since congress could not tax, debt from the war had run up very high. I. U.S. Debt- Since congress could not tax, debt from the war had run up very high. States also fell into heavy debt and drove citizens into poverty from high taxes. J. State Debt- States also fell into heavy debt and drove citizens into poverty from high taxes.

I. Shay’s Rebellion 1. Daniel Shays is Boston farmer 2. Shay’s falls into deep debt from high state taxes. 3. Shays led uprising of 1,200 angry farmers to attack a federal building. 4. Rebellion was quickly stopped ***Sent a wakeup call around the country that it could also happen to other citizens!***

Mini Quiz!!! Mini Quiz!!! Tupac- Changes 1. What was the name of the agreement that ended the revolutionary war? 2. Area of land gained in 1785? 3. Name two weaknesses of the Articles 4. What was the name of America’s first written Constitution? 5. How did Shays rebellion affect the Articles?