1. The Nations 1st Government
First of the First: States urged by leaders & 2nd Continental Congress to create constitutions

2. From Colonies to States: similarities
Legislatures: make laws
Bicameral legislatures
Executives: enforce laws (governors)
Judicial: Interpret laws
Constitutions: plans for Government
Bill of Rights
Declaration, Magna Carta & English Bill of Rights

3. Calls for Unity: Massachusetts Constitution Three notable ways
Model a framework government American’s Constitution

4. Confederation Government
Articles of Confederation
Our 1st constitution
Went into effect 1781
Unicameral legislature
Every state had one vote
Control over army
Authority to deal with foreign nations
Positive outcomes of Government
Ordinance of 1785: survey
Northwest Ordinance of 1787: statehood for territories in west

5. Limitation of Government
Could not enforce laws
Could not tax
Could not regulate trade
No executive to direct policy
No courts
Congress couldn’t pass laws w/o 9/13 votes
Congress couldn’t change w/o al 13 states

6. Weaknesses led to Shay’s Rebellion
Farmer taxed to lose land
Revolted
Put down quickly
Rebellion caused people to realize Articles of Confederation were not working for the colonist.

7. Shays’s Rebellion