3.1 The Nation’s First Governments Mrs. Shadoin Mrs. Shadoin Civics and Economics

The First State Constitutions In May of 1776, the Second Continental Congress urged colonists to form state governments to replace the old colonial charters In May of 1776, the Second Continental Congress urged colonists to form state governments to replace the old colonial charters January 1776, New Hampshire became the first colony to organize as a state and craft a constitution January 1776, New Hampshire became the first colony to organize as a state and craft a constitution

The First State Constitutions Constitution= a written plan for government Constitution= a written plan for government Each state had a legislature to create laws, most were bicameral, divided into two parts, or houses Each state had a legislature to create laws, most were bicameral, divided into two parts, or houses SenateHouse of Representatives

The First State Constitutions Each state also had a governor who was elected by the legislature or citizens; his job was to carry out laws Each state also had a governor who was elected by the legislature or citizens; his job was to carry out laws Each state also had judges and courts to decide what laws meant Each state also had judges and courts to decide what laws meant

The First State Constitutions Most state constitutions included a Bill of Rights, guaranteeing certain basic freedoms and legal protections to the state’s citizens Most state constitutions included a Bill of Rights, guaranteeing certain basic freedoms and legal protections to the state’s citizens

The Articles of Confederation Americans concluded if they wanted to win the war with Great Britain, they would need a single, strong army under central control Americans concluded if they wanted to win the war with Great Britain, they would need a single, strong army under central control

The Articles of Confederation The Second Continental Congress made plans for a union of the states, in 1777 the Congress detailed these plans in the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States of America The Second Continental Congress made plans for a union of the states, in 1777 the Congress detailed these plans in the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States of America

The Articles of Confederation Confederation= a group of individual state governments that band together for a common purpose Confederation= a group of individual state governments that band together for a common purpose The Articles of Confederation established a system for cooperation among independent states, by 1781, all 13 states had ratified, or approved the Articles The Articles of Confederation established a system for cooperation among independent states, by 1781, all 13 states had ratified, or approved the Articles The Articles set up a unicameral legislature in which each state had one vote, it controlled the army and dealt with foreign countries, central powers were limited The Articles set up a unicameral legislature in which each state had one vote, it controlled the army and dealt with foreign countries, central powers were limited

The Articles of Confederation The Confederation Congress had no power to enforce its laws and no power to tax; it could not require the states to do anything The Confederation Congress had no power to enforce its laws and no power to tax; it could not require the states to do anything

Accomplishments of the Articles Through the Ordinance of 1785, Congress created a system for surveying and settling western lands; it arranged the land into townships six miles square, each township was divided into 36 sections of each one square mile Through the Ordinance of 1785, Congress created a system for surveying and settling western lands; it arranged the land into townships six miles square, each township was divided into 36 sections of each one square mile

Accomplishments of the Articles It at first applied only to the Northwest Territory- present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin but it established a system of land surveying and settlement that we still use today It at first applied only to the Northwest Territory- present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin but it established a system of land surveying and settlement that we still use today

Accomplishments of the Articles In 1787, the Northwest Ordinance was passed; it laid the basis for new territorial governments and set a precedent for admitting states to the Union In 1787, the Northwest Ordinance was passed; it laid the basis for new territorial governments and set a precedent for admitting states to the Union

Accomplishments of the Articles It also included a specific provision outlawing slavery It also included a specific provision outlawing slavery

Weaknesses of the Articles Congress could not pass a law unless 9 states voted in favor of it; any attempt to amend the Articles required a unanimous vote of all 13 states Congress could not pass a law unless 9 states voted in favor of it; any attempt to amend the Articles required a unanimous vote of all 13 states Even if Congress managed to pass laws, it could not enforce them; the Articles did not provide for a governor, or for courts, if a state ignored a law Congress could do nothing about it Even if Congress managed to pass laws, it could not enforce them; the Articles did not provide for a governor, or for courts, if a state ignored a law Congress could do nothing about it

A Time of Crisis Unable to collect taxes Congress borrowed money to pay for the Revolutionary War; it had run up a debt that would take years to repay Unable to collect taxes Congress borrowed money to pay for the Revolutionary War; it had run up a debt that would take years to repay State governments had also fallen into debt; they taxed citizens heavily, driving many farmers out of business and sparking widespread resentment State governments had also fallen into debt; they taxed citizens heavily, driving many farmers out of business and sparking widespread resentment States also taxed goods imported from other states and foreign countries hurting trade States also taxed goods imported from other states and foreign countries hurting trade

A Time of Crisis During 1786 and 1787, riots broke out in several states, Daniel Shays a farmer who had fallen into debt because of heavy state taxes led a rebellion in Massachusetts when courts threatened to take his farm During 1786 and 1787, riots broke out in several states, Daniel Shays a farmer who had fallen into debt because of heavy state taxes led a rebellion in Massachusetts when courts threatened to take his farm

A Time of Crisis Shays armed about 1,200 farmers in an attack on a federal arsenal, the rebellion, known as Shays’ Rebellion was quickly stopped but sent a wake-up call throughout the country Shays armed about 1,200 farmers in an attack on a federal arsenal, the rebellion, known as Shays’ Rebellion was quickly stopped but sent a wake-up call throughout the country

A Time of Crisis Many leaders began arguing for a stronger national government; in states sent delegates to Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation Many leaders began arguing for a stronger national government; in states sent delegates to Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation