1. CIVICS, Ch2, Sec. 3

2. EARLY STATE CONSTITUTIONS Even BEFORE the Declaration of Independence was signed, the states began making preparations to govern themselves. Jan. 1776: New Hampshire was the first state to write a constitution, a written plan for a government. By 1780, all the 13 states had had written constitutions.

3. EARLY STATE CONSTITUTIONS Each state constitution was a little different, but all were similar. Each state set up 3 branches of government: – Legislative Branch-a legislature to make laws. Most of these legislatures were bicameral (had 2 houses) like the English Parliament. The two houses were chosen by different methods – Executive Branch: a governor to carry out the laws. In some states the governor was elected by the people, in some he was chosen by the state legislature; – Judicial Branch: Judges & Courts to interpret and apply the law to actual cases.

4. EARLY STATE CONSTITUTIONS Most of the early state constitutions also contained a BILL OF RIGHTS, a section of the constitution guaranteeing certain basic freedoms & legal protections. Examples: – Right to trial by jury – Protection of personal property Both can be traced back the MAGNA CARTA, the document signed by King John in 1215

5. 1780 Massachusetts Constitution The 1780 Massachusetts Constitution is the only one still in effect today. It had 3 unusual characteristic, that would make it a model for the U.S. Constitution later: – Power was distributed evenly among the 3 branches of government (in the others the legislature was much more powerful than the other branches) – The Executive branch (governor) & the courts were given “checks” over the legislature; – It was created by a special convention of delegates, and then approved by a vote of the citizens.

6. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION Each state had a government but there was a need for a central government. Why? A war was going on. 13 small separate forces could not win against the British Army. They needed one army. 1777: the Second Continental Congress wrote the Articles of Confederation, a plan for a central government, our 1 st constitution

7. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION Confederation: a group of individuals who band together for a common purpose The ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION established a system of cooperation among the independent states. The states remained mostly independent.

8. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION The Articles of Confederation set up a one-house legislature, in which each state had one vote. This body had control over the army & authority to deal with foreign countries. It had: – No Executive Branch (no president or governor) – No Judicial Branch (no courts) It had: – No power to collect taxes (had to ask the states for money) – No power to enforce its laws (it had to ask the states to enforce its laws)

9. A SHAKY NATIONAL GOVERNMENT This central government was weak. The state governments had much more power than the central government. Nevertheless, the United States managed to win the Revolutionary War. – We (the United States) were barely hanging on for 6 years. It looked like we would loose. Then France agreed to help us. We won --G. B. decided the war was more trouble than it was worth. – The Treat of Paris was signed in 1783

10. A Shaky Nation Government We (the U.S.) had problems!!! – The National Government was deeply in debt. It had no way to collect taxes. – The State Governments were also in debt. They imposed heavy taxes on their citizens, and that drove many farmers out of business and caused much resentment. – There was fear that neither the State governments nor the National Government could protect their safety or their property. There were riots.

11. A Shaky Government “Shays’s Rebellion” – A Massachusetts farmer named Daniel Shays was in debt, and a Mass. Court was about to take his farm as payment for his debts. – Shays said the state had caused the problem. He raised an “army” of 1200 Massachusetts farmers and tried to take a federal arsenal. – George Washington was sent to put down the rebellion & succeeded, but this convinced many people that the U.S.needed a stronger central government.

12. A Shaky Government George Washington quote: “I do not conceive we can exist long as a nation without having lodged somewhere a power which will pervade the whole Union”. There was a decision to revise the Articles of Confederation to make the National Government stronger. 1787: 12 of the 13 states (only Rhode Island did not send delegates) sent delegates to a meeting in Philadelphia to attend a meeting to revise the Articles of Confederation.