Creating State Governments

State Constitutions Most states adopted written constitutions in 1776 and 1777 before there was a national government The voters of individual states had to approve the constitution

State Constitutions Established states and defined and limited government powers Declared the basic rights of citizens (normally through a bill of rights)

Limited the power of the executive branch Gave more power to the legislative branch, reflecting a desire to retain power in the hands of the people

Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) Written by George Mason Established the premise of basic human rights which cannot be violated by the government Written before the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson drew from Mason’s work in writing the Declaration

Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom (1786) Established the principle of religious liberty Outlawed the established church—that is, the practice of government support for one favored church

Creating a National Government Delegates to the Second Continental Congress designed a new plan of government in American political leaders, fearful of a powerful central government like England’s, created the Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation Established Congress as the nation’s governing body

Powers under the Articles To declare war To sign peace and other treaties with foreign nations To pass laws, but 9 of the 13 states had to agree

Weaknesses of the Articles Provided for a weak national government Gave Congress no power to tax or regulate commerce among the states Provided for no common currency Gave each state one vote regardless of size Provided for no executive or judicial branch

Results of Weaknesses No taxes meant no revenue for the government Lack of power in national government led to civil unrest in the states

Shays’s Rebellion