1

Name

Date

Period

Essential Questions (What I need to know):

1. What is government?

2. How did the first United States government

operate?

3. How did the New York State Constitution reflect

the principles embodied in the Declaration of

Independence?

4. Why was a new Constitution necessary?

Unit 7 Grading Rubric:

Vocabulary (pg 2 – 3) ____/8

NYS Constitution Activity (pg. 4 -7) ____/26

Notes I (pg. 8) ____/5

Notes II (pg. 9-10) ____/5

AoC Chart (pg. 11-12) ____/10

AoC - HW (pg. 13-14) ____/5

Land Ordinance/NW Ordinance (pg. 15-16) ____/5

Political Cartoon (pg. 17) ____/5

Notes III and IV (pg. 18) ____/5

Study Guide (pg. 19-20) ____/10

Score for Unit 7 ____/84 = ______%

Unit 7

Our First Government

Bellwork

Date Answer(s)

2

Unit 1vocabulary

Definition Characteristics

Examples Non-Examples

Definition

Definition Definition Characteristics

Characteristics

Characteristics

Examples

Examples Examples

Non-Examples

Non-Examples Non-Examples

constitution governor

federal confederation

3

Definition Characteristics

Examples Non-Examples

Definition

Definition Definition Characteristics

Characteristics

Characteristics

Examples

Examples Examples

Non-Examples

Non-Examples Non-Examples

ordinance bicameral

legislature

limited

government delegate

4

Name____________

Date____________

Period____________

Anticipation Guide: The New York State Constitution

Directions: Below are seven statements about the drafting of the New York State

Constitution. Decide if you agree or disagree with each one. Write an A on the lint

if you agree with the statement and a D on the line if you disagree with the

statement. Be prepared to explain why you think the way you do.

A = Agree

D = Disagree

____________ 1. A constitution is necessary to keep law and order in a state or

country.

____________ 2. During the Revolutionary War, it was easy for the Patriots to

run a government because the majority of New Yorkers were

Patriots.

____________ 3. Drafting the U.S. Constitution for all the states must have

happened before drafting the New York State Constitution

because the documents are so similar.

____________ 4. There were restrictions on who could vote and own property in

New York State when John Jay drafted the Constitution.

____________ 5. There was little question as to how to divide power when

drafting the NYS Constitution; in other words, it was easy to

decide who should be in power.

____________ 6. The residents of every state were given the chance to vote on

their state constitutions. After all, we demanded representation

in Parliament when we were ruled by Britain.

____________ 7. The New York State Constitution we have today is still the same

one written in 1777.

5

The New York State Constitution

On the surface, it may seem it would be nice to be free to do as you please.

However, imagine what disorder there would be if everybody did just as he or she

pleased. To prevent this kind of disorder in New York State, a constitution was

written and a government was formed.

1 A constitution is a set of rules or laws. Many groups—club towns, villages,

cities, and nations—have constitutions. The laws and rules of the constitution are

that group’s most important laws and rules. Everything must be done according to

the constitution. Great Britain’s constitution is not written down. Most

constitutions, however, are in writing so that everyone can see what the rules are.

When people know the laws, they can protect their rights. New York’s first

constitution was written under difficult and dangerous conditions.

2 The Patriots in New York had to set up a government to run things during the

Revolutionary War. Their leader was a very able lawyer named John Jay. The

leaders of the Patriots stayed in New York City until it became clear that the

British would take the city. New York signed the Declaration of Independence on

July 9, 1777.

3 The Patriots, led by lawyer John Jay, had to find a safe place in which to work.

As the British started moving in, they fled from White Plains and ended up in

Kingston. Kingston became the first capital of the infant state.

4 Kingston was well protected by soldiers. A committee was set up there to

organize against the Tories (Loyalists). Now it was safe to begin work writing the

constitution alone in a quiet place outside the city. It took one month to write the

first copy.

5 There was much debate, or discussion, over some of the ideas John Jay used to

write the first New York State Constitution. Would power be in the hands of a few

people, or would everyone have an equal say? Would the state’s slaves be set free?

Would all people be allowed to practice their religions freely? Would the head of

the government have strong powers? How would new laws or rules be made?

Who would carry them out? How would the courts be run? The debates went on

for some time. At last, the leaders made their decisions.

6 The state constitution set up a government of three branches, or parts. An elected

governor heads the executive branch, which sees the laws are carried out. The

second branch is the legislative branch. It too is elected. The legislative branch

6

has two houses, the Senate and the Assembly. The third branch is the judicial

branch, which is made up of court judges who are appointed.

7 The office of governor was established by the first New York State Constitution

in 1777. Governors were to serve for a three year term. Throughout the years, the

number of years the New York State Governor serves has changed from 2 to 3 to 4

year terms. Currently, the governor serves a 4 year term. George Clinton became

New York’s first governor. He served as governor from 1777-1795.

8 The New York Constitution says that all power belongs to the people. The rules,

however, did not set up the government that way. The average person was not able

to vote in New York for more than 100 years. John Jay believed that the state

should be ruled by those who owned property. The other committee members,

who were wealthy landowners, agreed. They set up rules that put ruling power

into the hands of a few well-to-do people.

9 Only men over 21 who owned property could vote. To vote for senators and the

governor, a man had to own property worth about $500. To vote for an

assemblyman, less property was needed. Money at that time was worth much

more than it is today. This meant that only one of every five New Yorkers (about

40,000 people) could vote. Since even this was better than the situation under

Great Britain’s rule, few New Yorkers complained.

10 Freedom and justice were for some, but not all. That is the way it was for

young New York. Little was done to change the courts. They simply continued as

they had been under the colonial government. Religious freedom was permitted to

all. Jay, however, did not get his wish to end slavery. At first, the others agreed to

put this law into the constitution. Unfortunately, Jays’ mother died, and he had to

leave Kingston. Without his leadership, the other writers of the constitution were

afraid to make this bold decision. The rule about freeing the slaves was therefore

taken out.

11 The constitution was accepted during Jay’s absence. As in all states except

Massachusetts, the people of New York were not given the right to vote for it. It

was read aloud from a platform made from a turned-over barrel in front of the

Kingston courthouse. The story, however, does not end there. Many

improvements were needed in the constitution. These improvements were made as

the state’s constitution was rewritten in 1821, 1846, and 1894. In time the

governor gained more power, and so did the people.

7

The New York State Constitution

5.

Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4

A constitution is a group’s most

important ________ or _______.

When a person knows the rules,

they can protect their ________.

The Patriots in New York set up a

government during the Revolution

led by ____________________.

________________ became the

first capital of New York State.

It took ____ ___________ to

write the first NYS Constitution

in Kingston.

Paragraphs 5, 6

There were many debates over how

New York State government would

work.

Finally it was decided that the

government would have __________

branches, or parts.

New York State Government

Paragraphs 10, 11

_____________ freedom was

granted to all New Yorkers.

_____________ was NOT ended

in New York by the first

constitution.

The people of New York were

NOT given the right to ________

for the Constitution.

The New York State Constitution

was rewritten in ______,

_______, and ______ to give

more power to the

____________ and the

____________.

Paragraphs 7, 8, 9

At first governors were to serve a

_________ year term; today

they serve a ___________ year

term.

New York’s first governor was

_______________________

The Constitution said power

belonged to the ___________

but in reality it belonged to a few

_______________ people.

Only ____________ over

_________ who owned

______________ could vote.

8

Name___________________

Date___________________

Period________

I New York State Constitution

1. After the Revolution, each state wrote its own state constitution and

___________ new governors to replace royal governors.

2. Important leader: ____________________________ - author of the

NYS Constitution

3. First capital of New York was ____________________________

4. Established a ______ branch government: Legislative (________ the

law), Executive (___________ the law), and Judicial (____________

the law and ____________ criminals).

5. ________________________: first governor (Head of Executive Branch)

6. Bicameral Legislature

_______________: Upper House; served a 4-year term

_______________: Lower House; served a 1-year term

7. Included a _______________________________________ to

protect the individual rights of citizens

8. Served as a model for the _________________________________

____/5

Unit 6:

Our First Government

Stars and Bars Notes

George Clinton

Hey! What’s the BIG IDEA?

The New York State Constitution set up and government with three branches (Executive,

Legislative, and Judicial). It established a two-house legislature (Senate and

Assembly).

9

II Articles of Confederation

1. Second Continental Congress realized we needed a ________________

_____________ or ____________ government to oversee the states.

2. June 1776 – committee of 13 (1 from each state) met to create a

constitution

3. Leaders were afraid of having a central government that was too

_____________ (Remember: _____________________________

___________________________________________________!)

4. Approved by Congress in 1777 and sent to the states to ___________

5. Small states without western lands refused to ratify because large

states could sell their western lands to make money. When the large

states gave up their western lands to the national government, the

Articles were put into effect.

6. Structure:

1 branch of government (called _______________); each state got

1 vote (equal representation)

Congress had the power to: print and borrow money, negotiate

(make) treaties with foreign countries and Native Americans,

resolve conflicts between states, could ask for $$ and soldiers

from the states but could not force them to contribute.

7. Important: The ________________ had more power than Congress!!!!

8. Strengths:

Developed the concept of Limited Government: Everyone MUST

follow the law – Regular people and Government officials

(_________________________________________________)

Land Ordinance of 1785: Congress divided up the western lands

into _________________ and the further into acres. One lot was

set aside for a public ________________, four for Revolutionary

War veterans and the rest was sold for _________ an acre.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787: Established the

_________________ _________________ (Present-day states

of IL, IN, MI, OH, WI). When 60,000 people moved into the

territory they could write a constitution and become a

________________. NO _________________ was allowed.

10

9. Weaknesses:

Most power held by the ______________________

No ______________________________

No national _________________ system

No ________________ to protect citizens and enforce treaties

Difficulty gaining trade agreements with foreign countries (could

not collect tariffs)

No power to enforce _____________________________

Difficulty passing _________________ (laws)

No power to _______________ (no $$$$$$$)

_____/5

Hey! What’s the BIG IDEA?

The Articles of Confederation established a very weak central government with only one branch – Congress. There was no president or national courts, and did not have to power

to tax.

11

Articles of Confederation

After declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776, the former colonies each wrote their own

state constitutions. However, many people believed there was a need for a centralized national

government. The Second Continental Congress developed a plan for government that became known as

the Articled of Confederation.

Powers Strength or Weakness Why it’s good or bad Possible Solution (if

weakness)

No Executive (President)

Could coin (print) money

States had more power

than the federal

government

No national court system

Could make treaties with

other countries

12

Powers Strength or Weakness Why it’s good or bad Possible Solution (if

weakness)

Could not collect taxes

Can declare war

Can make an army/navy

but must “borrow” the

soldiers from the states

Could establish Post

Offices

Could admit new states

Could not control trade

between states

Could borrow money

____/10

13

The Articles of Confederation – HW

During the Revolutionary War, the United Colonies needed a document to govern the lands then struggling to be free from England’s rule. The Article of Confederation became the first national constitution of the United States in March of 1781.

The Articles of Confederation established a government organized around a Congress. Each of the thirteen states would have only one vote regardless of size or population. For a law to pass, nine of the thirteen states had to agree.

The Congress had the power to declare war, make peace, and make treaties. It could also coin and borrow money, create post offices, admit new states, and create an army and navy.

On the other hand, the Congress could not tax, and it could not control or interfere with trade between the individual states.

There was no one person who was in charge of this new government. Because they feared the return of tyranny, the founding fathers were very cautious not to create a new “king” – that was exactly why they had separated from England. So, as a result, there was no executive to carry out the laws passed by Congress. Ultimately, this lack of a leader caused much confusion.

The Articles of Confederation created a loose friendship between the thirteen states. This loose friendship was enough to win the War for Independence and keep the states together as one country. But without an executive, the power to tax, and the ability to regulate trade, the Congress could not function effectively. Many Americans felt the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised.

By 1786, more problems were beginning to surface. A convention of five of the thirteen states, called the Annapolis Convention, met at Annapolis, Maryland, in September, 1786. They met to study the trade problem. There was not enough representation to make any big decisions, so the delegates led by Alexander Hamilton (New York) and James Madison (Virginia) called for another convention to begin in May, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In February of that year, Congress agreed with the delegates and stated the convention would have the “sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.”

The Articles of Confederation

Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin

14

1. What was the first national government of the United States?

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

2. When did our first government begin to govern the United States?

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

3. For a law to pass, how many states had to agree? ______________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What were the powers of Congress under the Articles of Confederation?

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What could Congress NOT do under the Articles? _____________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Why was there no executive under the Articles? _______________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What meeting occurred in September, 1786? What was its purpose? _______________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What was scheduled to happen in May, 1787? Why? __________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

__________/5

15

Land Ordinance of 1785

1. Why did Congress pass the Land Ordinance of 1785?

2. What does the word “survey” mean?

3. Why didn’t a lot of people move west after the ordinance was passed?

4. How did speculation companies help increase the number of people moving to the

Northwest Territory?

16

Northwest Territory, c. 1790

1. What is the title of this map?

2. What two rivers appear to make up the southern and western boundaries of

the Northwest Territory?

3. List the states that share a border with the Northwest Territory.

4. Which of the Great Lakes touch the Northwest Territory?

____/5

17

Political Cartoon: Articles of Confederation

Rough Sailing Ahead

1. What does the ship represent?

2. What do the waves represent?

3. According to this cartoon, what are three problems this ship has to face?

4. What point is the author/artist trying to make? What is the main idea?

___/5

18

III Shays’ Rebellion

1. Massachusetts – farmers went into ________ having to pay new taxes

(to pay off war debts) without much gold or silver, and no paper money.

2. Courts forced them to sell their property to pay their debts or go to

debtors’ prison. They asked for help from the Massachusetts Legislature

but were refused.

3. __________________________ led a rebellion to protest, but it failed.

4. Impact:______________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________

IV Annapolis Convention

1. Only _______ states sent delegates.

2. Decided:

__________________________________________________ ____

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

3. Called for a larger convention to meet in Philadelphia

_______/5

Daniel Shays

Hey! What’s the BIG IDEA?

At the Annapolis Convention, delegates decided that there were not enough states

represented to make changes to the AoC,. A larger convention in Philadelphia was

planned.

Hey! What’s the BIG IDEA?

Shays’ Rebellion showed that the national government was too weak and needed to be

changed.

19

Name___________________

Date___________________

Period________

Answer each of the following questions to the best of your ability. When completed it will be the study guide for the unit test.

I. I can explain the purpose and structure of New York State government.

1. How many branches are in the New York State government? What are they?

What is the purpose of each?

2. Who was NYS’s first governor?

3. What are the two houses in the NYS legislature?

4. Why is the NYS Constitution significant/important?

II. I can explain the purpose and structure of the first government of the

United States, and am able to analyze it’s strengths and weaknesses.

5. What did leaders fear when creating the first government of the United States?

6. How was the government structured under the Articles of Confederation?

7. Who/what had the most power under the Articles of Confederation?

8. What is “Limited Government”?

Unit 7: Our New Government

Study Guide Questions

20

9. What were the strengths of the Articles of Confederation?

10. What was the purpose of the Land Ordinance and Northwest Ordinance?

11. What were THREE weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

III. I can explain the significance of Shays’ Rebellion.

12. What was the significance/importance of Shays’ Rebellion?

IV. I am able to explain what was decided at the Annapolis Convention.

13. What was decided at the Annapolis Convention?