2. Just before the AMERICAN REVOLUTION
began, Congress urged the colonies to replace their
colonial CHARTERS with state CONSTITUTIONS.
Most states established constitutions that divided
power between two branches:
The LEGISLATIVE branch became the LAWMAKING
branch. It included representatives elected by the
states’ VOTERS.
The EXECUTIVE branch carried out the laws that the
legislature made. A state GOVERNOR headed the
EXECUTIVE branch.
Most state CONSTITUTIONS included a BILL OF
RIGHTS that spelled out certain rights the state had to
recognize and protect.
3. As the 13 states wrote their own
CONSTITUTIONS, the Congress sought to create a
national CONSTITUTION by which to govern the
nation.
In November 1777, the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
passed the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION. All 13
states then had to ratify the ARTICLES.
A delay in the ratification process occurred
because of a dispute among several states over
WESTERN LAND CLAIMS. Some states fought over
the right to the same western land. States
without western land claims argued that the West
should become PUBLIC LAND.
4.
5. In 1781, the last state ratified the ARTICLES and they
became the FIRST CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
Under the ARTICLES, the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS became
the NATIONAL LAWMAKING BODY. It had the right to
DECLARE WAR, BORROW MONEY, and CONDUCT BUSINESS
WITH NATIVE AMERICANS AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
Under the ARTICLES, the NATIONAL government remained
much weaker than the STATE governments. It could write
laws, for example, but the states were free to enforce the
law or not. The ARTICLES also did not require the states to
send money to Congress. As a result, it rarely had the
FINANCIAL means to carry out its plans.
The ARTICLES also made no provision for a COURT
SYSTEM. If states disagreed, they had no place to resolve
their differences.
