2. State Constitutions
As the war was being fought, the colonies wrote new constitutions:
By 1777, ten of the thirteen had new constitutions
Most were ratified by state legislatures
Maryland, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina by direct vote
Common features:
Each had a “Bill of Rights”
Separation of Powers – to safeguard against tyranny of executive
Voting rights extended to all property owning white males
Office holders usually held to higher requirement of ownership
At the same time, after 1776, the Second Continental Congress attempted to create a new central government

3. The Articles of Confederation
As Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, John Dickinson drafted the Articles
Adopted by Congress in 1777 and sent to the states for ratification
Ratified in March 1781
Structure of the government:
Each state had one vote
9/13 to pass a law
Unicameral Congress
Unanimity required for amendment
Powers given to Congress:
Power to make war
Send and receive diplomats
Borrow money
Powers denied Congress
Regulate commerce
No executive power
Collect taxes – relied upon states

4. The Articles of Confederation
Accomplishments:
Winning the war
Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Problems:
Financial
Most war debts were unpaid after Revolution
Individual states had printed paper money
Congress could only request money
Foreign
Britain and Spain were attempting to take advantage
Domestic
Shay’s Rebellion in January 1787
No national judiciary
No executive branch

5. Revising the Articles of Confederation
Madison and Hamilton suggest to Annapolis Convention in 1786 a meeting “for the sole purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.”
Issues at the “Constitutional Convention”
Representation
Slavery
Trade
Powers of the President
Ratification
Read from pg. 175 and stop at “The Clash of Federalists and Anti-Federalists” for Monday.

6. Homework Assignment
Log on to wshsfernandez.yolasite.com and then click the link to “constitutionfacts.com” under Unit One Lesson Plans
Browse the tabs under The Articles of Confederation
Be sure to read the John Hanson story!
Take the quiz – 20 questions – I will select at least five of these questions for your Unit One Test.