United States History Student Edition

Connecticut and Rhode Island decided to use their colonial charters as state constitutions. After years of British rule, Americans were determined not to place too much power in the hands of one ruler or body. They crafted constitutions that limited the power of the governor. Pennsylvania’s constitution replaced the office entirely with an elected 12-person council. States also divided power between the governor (or council) and the legislature. Most states set up two-house, or bicameral (bye•KAM•ruhl), legislatures to divide the work of government even further. The first state constitutions primarily aimed to keep power in the hands of the people. For example, voters chose the state legislators, and states held elections often. In most states, only white males who were at least 21 years old could vote. These men also were required to own a certain amount of property or to pay a certain amount of taxes. Some states allowed free African American males to vote. Because state constitutions limited the powers of the governors, the legislatures became the most powerful branch of government. The state legislatures tried to make taxes fair for everyone, but disagreements arose. The shift from British colonies to self-governing states would hold many challenges. The Articles of Confederation In addition to forming state governments, the American people had to form a central government. People agreed that the new country should be a republic , a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives. They wanted to live up to the promise of the Declaration of Independence and form a government that secured the rights of the people. However, they could not agree on what powers the new republic’s government should have. At first, most Americans wanted a weak central government. They expected that each state would remain free to act independently on most issues. The states would rely on a central government only to wage war and handle relations with other countries.

In 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to draw up a plan for a new central government. The result of this committee’s work was the Articles of Confederation. After much discussion, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles on November 15, 1777. The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government. The central government had no executive branch and no national judiciary. The states kept most of their power. For the states, the Articles of Confederation were “a firm league of friendship” in which each state retained “its sovereignty, freedom and independence.” The Articles of Confederation gave the Congress limited powers. Congress could conduct foreign affairs, maintain armed forces, borrow money, and issue currency. However, Congress did not have the power to regulate trade, force citizens to join the army, or impose taxes. If Congress needed to raise money or troops, it had to ask the states. States were not required to contribute. The new central government had no chief executive. This is an official, such as a president or a governor, who carries out the laws and leads the government in its day-to-day operations.

This replica of the York County Courthouse in Pennsylvania, where the Second Continental Congress signed the Articles of Confederation into effect, was built in 1976.

bicameral having two separate lawmaking chambers republic a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives

PHOTO: drnadig/Getty Images; TEXT: Engrossed and corrected copy of the Articles of Confederation, showing amendments adopted, November 15, 1777, Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789, Record Group 360; National Archives.

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