Download The Constitution_The Country_s First Governments Lesson 1

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The weaknesses of the first U.S. government shaped the way our government works today.
State Constitutions
SS.7.C.1.2, LA.7.1.6.1, LA.7.1.7.3
How did citizens set up governments as they transitioned from colonies to states?
Even before the Declaration of Independence was signed, American colonists thought about independence. Independence
would mean an end to colonial charters. New plans of government would have to replace them. The Second Continental
Congress urged colonists to form governments, “as shall . . . best conduce [contribute] to the happiness and safety of their
constituents [voters].”
In January 1776, New Hampshire became the first colony to organize as a state. Leaders wrote a constitution: a detailed,
written plan for government. Within a few years, all the other former colonies had their own state constitutions.
State Governments
All of the state constitutions set up a similar form of government. Each state had a legislature to make laws. Most of these
legislatures were bicameral. This means they were divided into two parts, or houses. The members of each house or state
legislature were chosen by different methods.
Each state also had a governor. This official was elected either by the legislature or by the citizens. The governor’s job was
to carry out the laws. Finally, each state had courts. Judges in the courts decided what the laws meant and how to apply
them to each new situation.
Bills of Rights
The new state governments were based upon ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence. These included the
American ideals of individual rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Most state constitutions contained a bill, or
list, of rights. This list guaranteed the basic freedoms and legal protections that the state’s citizens would enjoy. Among these
rights were trial by jury and protection of personal property. They can be traced all the way back to the Magna Carta and the
English Bill of Rights.
Identifying What is a constitution?
a written plan for gov't
The Articles of Confederation
SS.7.C.1.5, SS.7.G.1.3
How did the Articles of Confederation create problems for the United States?
Each state was ready to govern itself when independence was declared. However, some tasks were too big for individual
states to handle on their own. A state could not raise and support a large army, for example. Americans realized that 13
small, separate forces could not fight the mighty British army. To win the war, American leaders knew they needed a single,
strong army under central control.
For this and other reasons, the Second Continental Congress planned for a confederation of states. A confederation is a
group of individual state governments that unite for a common purpose. In 1777 the Congress wrote out these plans in the
Articles of Confederation. This document became the first constitution of the United States of America.
The Articles of Confederation set up a “league of friendship” among independent states. By 1781 all 13 states had ratified,
or approved, the Articles.
The Articles of Confederation created a one–house legislature in which each state had one vote. The legislature was known
as the Confederation Congress. It controlled the army and had the power to deal with foreign countries on behalf of the
states.
The Northwest Ordinances
The Confederation Congress passed two laws, or ordinances, that would have a major effect on the history of the United
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States. Both of these ordinances were about the Old Northwest. This area included present–day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.
The first ordinance, the Ordinance of 1785, set up a plan for surveying western lands. Surveying means measuring a piece
of land. The ordinance also described how western lands were to be sold. It divided the land into townships six miles
square. Each township was further divided into 36 sections, each one mile square. This way of surveying is still used today.
The second ordinance was passed in 1787. It was known as the Northwest Ordinance. This law set up a government for
this area, which was called the Northwest Territory. Officials later used the ordinance as a model to organize governments
for other new territories. The ordinance also provided a plan for admitting new states to the Union. Because of these plans,
the Northwest Ordinance was perhaps the most important action of Congress under the Articles.
Another clause in the ordinance that would have a significant impact on U.S. history in the 1800s said:
"There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in said territory."
—the Northwest Ordinance
The Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance helped people settle the Northwest Territory in an orderly way. During
the American Revolution, only a few thousand settlers lived there. By the 1790s, their numbers had grown to about 120,000.
Weaknesses of the Articles
These two Northwest Territory ordinances were important laws. The Confederation Congress, however, had few other
successes. Why was this so? First, the Congress could not pass a law unless nine states voted for it. Also, any attempt to
amend, or change, the Articles required all 13 states to agree. Such strict voting rules made it hard for the Congress to do
anything.
The power of the Confederation Congress was strictly limited. The colonists had disliked strong British rule. As a result, the
13 states gave the Confederation Congress little power. Even when the Congress passed laws, it could not enforce them.
Unlike state constitutions, the Articles did not allow for a governor. If a state ignored a law, Congress could do nothing. There
was no one to ensure the law was obeyed.
The Confederation Congress also did not have the power to tax. The Articles allowed the Congress to ask the states for
money but not to demand it. The Congress could not, in fact, require the states to do anything.
Shays’s Rebellion
The Articles were too weak to deal with many of the problems facing the new country. However, the United States was able
to achieve some success. The states forced the British to accept their independence. The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783.
It ended the fighting between Great Britain and the new nation.
Independence, however, did not put an end to the country’s struggles. For one thing, the United States faced serious
financial troubles. It was unable to collect taxes. Yet, the Confederation Congress had borrowed money to pay for the
American Revolution. It had run up a large debt.
The state governments had also fallen into deep debt. They taxed their citizens heavily. Meanwhile, trade slowed and
people lost jobs. Farmers could not sell their crops and went into debt. Some even lost their lands. The states also taxed
goods imported from other states and countries. These taxes hurt trade. Merchants and businesspeople suffered. The
Confederation Congress had no power to fix these problems.
Even worse, the Congress could do nothing to calm the public’s worries. Above all, Americans feared that the government
could not protect them. During 1786 and 1787, riots broke out in several states.
One alarming uprising took place in Massachusetts. There, a farmer named Daniel Shays owed money because of heavy
state taxes. Massachusetts courts threatened to take his farm to pay for his debts. Shays felt the state had no right to punish
him for a problem it had created. Many others agreed. Shays led about 1,200 protesters, including a number of free African
Americans, in an attack on a federal arsenal. The uprising, known as Shays's Rebellion, was quickly stopped. But it was a
warning to the country. Could the government maintain law and order?
Many political leaders, merchants, and writers began calling for a stronger national government.
"I do not conceive we can exist long as a nation, without having lodged somewhere a power which will pervade the whole
Union.”
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—George Washington’s papers
In 1787 representatives, called delegates, from 12 of the states attended a meeting in Philadelphia. Their plan was to revise,
or change, the Articles of Confederation.
Explaining Why was it difficult to pass laws under the Articles of Confederation?
Florida CONNECTION
From Territory to State
Like the lands in the Old Northwest, Florida became a U.S. territory before it became a state. Spain transferred the land to the U.S.
in a treaty that went into effect in 1821. The Territory of Florida was organized the next year. It became the 27th state in 1845.
21st Century SKILLS
Articulate Thoughts and Ideas
Daniel Shays took arms against the government. However, people have many peaceful ways to make themselves heard. A
petition, for example, is a formal written request made to an official or organization.
Suppose you are Daniel Shays. Draft a petition to present to the governor of Massachusetts.
LESSON 1 REVIEW
Review Vocabulary
1. What is a confederation?
LA.7.1.6.1
2. What were two successful ordinances created under the Articles of Confederation? What did they achieve?
LA.7.1.6.1
Answer the Guiding Questions
3. Identifying State constitutions based their bills of rights on what English document?
SS.7.C.1.2
4. Determining Cause and Effect What problems after the war caused Shays's Rebellion?
SS.7.C.1.5
5. EXPOSITORY WRITING Suppose that you are on a committee to write a new state constitution. Identify three freedoms you want
the constitution to guarantee. Explain why it is important to guarantee these rights.
SS.7.C.1.2
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