Chapter 2 Section 3 Civics Notes
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January 1776 New Hampshire became the
first colony to organize as a state and draft a
constitution
By 1780 the other colonies had followed
 Each State had:
- A legislature (most bicameral)
- A governor
- Judges and courts
Most state constitutions included a bill of
rights.
The Massachusetts Constitution
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Unusual in three ways
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1. Distributed power more evenly between
the legislature, governor and courts
2. Governor and courts had authority to
check legislature
3. Was created by elected delegates
Became an important model for the U.S.
Constitution
The Articles of Confederation
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Colonies realized they would be no match for
the British unless they united under one
central government.
1777-The Articles of Confederation becomes
the first Constitution of the United States.
Set up one-house legislature where each
state had one vote.
Under Articles Congress had no power to
enforce laws or to tax
Weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation
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By 1781 all 13 states had ratified the
Articles of Confederation
There were a few weaknesses with the
Articles.
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Congress could not pass a law unless 9
states voted in favor of it
To amend it, would require a unanimous vote
of all 13 states
Weaknesses Continued
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Congress had no power to enforce laws
SEE PAGE 41 CHART “ Weaknesses of
the Articles of Confederation
A Shaky National Government
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The United States was able to overcome
weaknesses and win the Revolutionary
War
Peace treaty signed with British called
Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783
The Country was in serious financial
trouble
Shaky Government Continued
-Had to borrow money for war, couldn’t
collect taxes.
-State governments were also in deep
debt
-State governments taxed their citizens
as a result driving many farmers out of
business
More about the Shaky
Government
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States also taxed goods from other states
or countries hurting trade
Government could also not do anything
about the publics insecurity.
During 1786 and 1787 riots broke out in
several states
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 Shay’s Rebellion- Daniel Shay and 1200
other armed farmers into an uprising
Shaky Government
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 Although quickly stopped it was a
wake up call to the country.
-By 1787, 12 of the states sent delegates
to a meeting in Philadelphia to revise the
Articles of Confederation