government section 4.1

mayflower compact

forerunner of the Constitution; established principles of laws, and submission to authority, self-initiative, etc.

• fundamental orders of Connecticut

• Massachusetts body of liberties

• William penn’s frame of government

the mayflower compact laid the foundation for other documents like: _________ _______ ___ ________, _________ ____ __ _______, _________ _____ ______ ___ __________

charters

original “constitutions” for the colonies; viewed as the “higher laws”

state constitutions

several colonies had their own constitutions by the end of the War for Independence; gave the founding fathers experience in creating a constitution

convention method

used by Massachusetts; constitution was created by delegates but approved by the people

massachusetts

fill in the blank

the convention method was used by __________

articles of confederation

1. First national Constitution in America’s history 

2. Created by 2nd Continental Congress during the war 

3. Completely ratified by the states by 1781

1781

fill in the blank

the articles of confederation was completely ratified by the states by ______

confederacy

1. “A firm league of friendship.” 

2. Central government is beneath the state government

land ordinance of 1785

surveyed and sold land to western settlers

northwest ordinance of 1787

created governments for western territories (equal to other states)

1. 9

2. legislative

3. tax

fill in the blank

what are the weaknesses of the articles?

1. __ states had to approve decisions made 

2. Only provided for a ________ (law-making) branch of government

   1. No power to ____

shay’s rebellion

a rebellion led by Daniel Shays as a result of a financial crisis for debt-ridden farmers in post-Revolution America

the critical period

fill in the blank

years of the Articles of Confederation are called “___ ______ _____”