Random Fact of the DayRandom Fact of the Day

Wedding rings date back thousands of Wedding rings date back thousands of years. Romans and Egyptians both years. Romans and Egyptians both believed that a vein called the believed that a vein called the vena amorisvena amoris ran directly from the ring finger to the ran directly from the ring finger to the heart. heart.

Chapter 3, Section 1Chapter 3, Section 1The Nation’s First The Nation’s First

GovernmentsGovernments

Main IdeaMain Idea

Americans faced the task of forming Americans faced the task of forming independent states and eventually passed independent states and eventually passed the Articles of Confederation. the Articles of Confederation.

I. First State Constitutions

A. Before the Declaration, colonists started Before the Declaration, colonists started planning state constitutions to replace planning state constitutions to replace old charters.old charters.

B. New Hampshire (1776) became the New Hampshire (1776) became the first state to draft a constitution.first state to draft a constitution.

C. Constitution- a written plan for a written plan for government. government.

***State legislatures decided THEY would State legislatures decided THEY would make their own laws***make their own laws***

D. Most state legislatures were bicameral Most state legislatures were bicameral1. 1. Bicameral- two house legislature.- two house legislature.

E. Most state constitutions included a bill of Most state constitutions included a bill of rights. rights.

***Things such as trial by jury, protection of personal property, can be traced back to Magna Carta (1215)***

II. The Articles of Confederation

A. States were prepared to govern States were prepared to govern themselves but states could not do a few themselves but states could not do a few important thingsimportant things

1. Maintain Army Maintain Army

2. 13 separate colonial armies 13 separate colonial armies needed to be joined as needed to be joined as

one one for any chance to defeat for any chance to defeat England. England.

B. Confederation- group of state group of state governments banding together for a governments banding together for a common purpose.common purpose.

C. Articles established “league of Articles established “league of friendship” among the 13 colonies and by friendship” among the 13 colonies and by 1781 all 13 had ratified.1781 all 13 had ratified.

D. Ratify- To approve. To approve.

E. Articles set up: Articles set up:

1. One house legislature (Unicameral) One house legislature (Unicameral)

2. Each state = 1 vote Each state = 1 vote

3. Weak central government Weak central government

F. Article Accomplishments Article Accomplishments

1. Established a national government Established a national government

2. Ordinance of 1785- bought land to bought land to obtain present day Ohio, Michigan, obtain present day Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Illinois, and Wisconsin.

3. Northwest Ordinance- laid the ground work for laid the ground work for the organization of the the organization of the newly purchased land. newly purchased land.

4. Outlawed slavery in the Outlawed slavery in the region.region.

5. Greatly expanded Greatly expanded America. America.

G. Weaknesses of Articles:G. Weaknesses of Articles:

1. 9/13 states had to agree to pass new laws1. 9/13 states had to agree to pass new laws

2. Any change to the Articles required 13/13 2. Any change to the Articles required 13/13 states to amend.states to amend.

3. Congress could not enforce laws.3. Congress could not enforce laws.

4. Congress could not tax or collect money.4. Congress could not tax or collect money.

5. States had too much power!!!5. States had too much power!!!

H. Treaty of Paris- Peace agreement that Peace agreement that ended the Revolutionary war (1783).ended the Revolutionary war (1783).

I. U.S. Debt- Since congress could not tax, Since congress could not tax, debt from the war had run up very high.debt from the war had run up very high.

J. State Debt- States also fell into heavy States also fell into heavy debt and drove citizens into poverty from debt and drove citizens into poverty from high taxes. high taxes.

I. Shay’s Rebellion

1. Daniel Shays is Boston farmer1. Daniel Shays is Boston farmer

2. Shay’s falls into deep debt from high 2. Shay’s falls into deep debt from high state taxes.state taxes.

3. Shays led uprising of 1,200 angry 3. Shays led uprising of 1,200 angry farmers to attack a federal building.farmers to attack a federal building.

4. Rebellion was quickly stopped 4. Rebellion was quickly stopped

***Sent a wakeup call around the country that it could also happen to other citizens!***

Mini Quiz!!! Mini Quiz!!! Tupac- Changes

1. What was the name of the agreement that 1. What was the name of the agreement that ended the revolutionary war?ended the revolutionary war?

2. Area of land gained in 1785?2. Area of land gained in 1785?

3. Name two weaknesses of the Articles3. Name two weaknesses of the Articles

4. What was the name of America’s first 4. What was the name of America’s first written Constitution?written Constitution?

5. How did Shays rebellion affect the 5. How did Shays rebellion affect the Articles?Articles?