Chapter 2 Section 3
• The Nation’s First
Government
Early State Constitutions
• In January 1776 New Hampshire became the
first colony to organize as a state and craft a
detailed written plan for government (a
constitution)
• Soon all colonies followed suite
• Each state had a legislature to create laws
• Most were bicameral
• Each had a
– governor elected by the legislature or by the citizens
– Had Judges
– Most had a bill of rights
The Massachusetts Constitution
• Massachusetts was the last to draw up a
Constitution
– It distributed power evenly among branches
– Governors and courts had authority to check
the legislature
– It was approved by a vote of the states
citizens
The Articles of Confederation
• The First constitution of the United states of
America
• Set up a one house legislature in which each
state had one vote
• Gave congress control over the army and
authority to deal with foreign countries on behalf
of the states
• Did not grant congress two important powers
– No power to enforce its laws
– No power to tax
Weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation
• Could not pass a law unless 9 states voted
in favor of it
• Amendments required a unanimous vote
of all 13 states
• Did not provide for a governor or for courts
• If a state decided to ignore a law the
congress could do nothing about it
A shaky National Government
• A peace agreement with great Britain
called the treaty of Paris was signed in
1783
• The country was in serious financial
troubles
• State governments were also in financial
trouble so they tax their citizens very
heavily
Shays’s Rebellion
• Daniel shays, a farmer who like many Americans
had fallen into debt because of heavy state
taxes, led one of the most alarming disturbances
• He lead 1,200 farmers on a raid of a federal
arsenal.
• Shays’s rebellion was quickly stoped it sent a
wake up call through the country
• Lead many people to call for a stronger central
government