Changes

Soon after the end of the Revolution, all but two of the states adopted new constitutions.  Rhode Island and Connecticut continued to use their charters, after removing all references to Britain.

Soon after the end of the Revolution, all but two of the states adopted new constitutions.  Rhode Island and Connecticut continued to use their charters, after removing all references to Britain.

All the constitutions then, and now, contain references to [[God]].<ref>http://www.usconstitution.net/states_god.html</ref>  But some of the colonial constitutions had problems with their systems of government.  People were still stirred up over the revolt, and their fear of a king or king-like ruler (such as a governor) came through in the states' constitutions.   

All the constitutions then, and now, contain references to [[God]].<ref>http://www.usconstitution.net/states_god.html</ref>  But many were fed up with kings, and their opposition to concentrating power in one person was reflected in the states' constitutions.   

Power was generally concentrated in the legislative branch.  The concept of governors rankled with the states, after their bad experiences with governors appointed from England, who had absolute veto power.  The colonists did not want so much power concentrated in the governor again, and their new governors had no veto powers at all.  A bill because law as soon as the legislature passed it.  In many cases, the governor was elected by the legislature as well.

Power was generally concentrated in the legislative branch rather than in an executive like a governor.  The concept of governors rankled with the states, after their bad experiences with governors appointed from England, who had absolute veto power.  The colonists typically deprived their new governors of having the power to veto any legislation.  A bill became law as soon as the legislature passed it.  In many cases, the governor was elected by the legislature as well.

Term lengths were further evidence of the problems with the new constitutions, as many governors served terms of only one year!

Short term lengths were also used to limit the power of governors, as some state constitutions set the time period for a governor to serve at only one year!

The courts lacked power just as the governors did.  In Pennsylvania, the general assembly could remove judges at any time for vaguely defined "misbehavior".  The situation was similar in Rhode Island.  One judge decided that Rhode Island's attempts to force citizen to use paper money was unconstitutional.  He and other judges who agreed with him were dismissed by the legislature.

The new courts lacked power just as the governors did.  In Pennsylvania, the general assembly could remove judges at any time for vaguely defined "misbehavior".  The situation was similar in Rhode Island.  One judge decided that Rhode Island's attempts to force citizen to use paper money was unconstitutional.  He and other judges who agreed with him were then dismissed by the legislature.

The new state governments put in place after the war may have overreacted in avoiding the policies of the British.  Similarly, it was not long before the federal government ran into problems of its own.

Perhaps the new state governments put in place after the war may have overreacted in avoiding the policies of the British.  Or perhaps the new state governments had it right in limiting the concentration of power.  But those who favor concentrated power began demanding a new national government.

 

==The Articles of Confederation==

==The Articles of Confederation==