In 1776, members of Congress believed a formal plan was needed to unify the colonies, secure foreign assistance, and formally declare America's break from England. Thomas Jefferson prepared the formal Declaration of Independence, after which Congress called the colonies to draft new state constitutions. Although the Articles of Confederation left the central government weak, it empowered the states, which expanded political participation through their individual charters.

The new state constitutions varied mainly in detail. All of them combined the best of the British government, including its respect for status, fairness, and due process, with unique American inclusions of individualism and control over excess governmental authority. Several, like Virginia's, included a bicameral legislature.

The state constitutions had some common features, including the division of power model established by Enlightenment philosopher Baron Montesquieu. The French aristocrat proposed separate branches of government with powers that offset those of the other branches. This division of power was usually accomplished in the state constitutions by establishing separate legislative and executive bodies. The state constitutions also instituted checks and balances among the powers, allowing one body to limit or restrict the power of another. Some examples of checks and balances include the executive veto, judicial review, and legislative confirmation of appointments. In addition, each state charter contained a Bill of Rights similar to the British model. However, they were more extensive and inclusive than the British version, protecting individual civil liberties against all branches of government.

The state constitutions expanded citizens' political participation by liberalizing voting requirements and eliminating religious qualifications for holding office. The power of the middle class increased, reducing the power of the wealthy colonists who had dominated politics before the Revolution. Despite their progressive aspects, the state constitutions did not extend participation to everyone. Women were not allowed to participate in politics, many southern colonies excluded slaves from their inalienable rights as human beings, and no state permitted universal male suffrage. The states supported the English philosophy of virtual representation, maintaining that elected officials represented the interests of everyone whether they were able to vote or not.

The state constitutions did little to help the governments cope with growing economic and political problems. By the summer of 1786, the post-war depression had taken hold, causing economic tensions and civil unrest. Middle-class farmers, emboldened by their strengthened political status, appealed to state legislatures to secure relief from their debts. Sympathetic to the farmers' plight, many of the governing bodies approved policies favoring debtors over creditors.

A stronger central government might have assisted the states in resolving their economic dilemmas, but the fledgling national government had problems of its own. The economic depression left the Continental Congress without the means to pay off the nation's war debt, and international tensions were increasing. France, America's ally during the war, demanded repayment of war debts and restricted American trade at some of its busiest ports. Spain closed the mouth of the Mississippi to commercial traffic and later reopened it but required Americans to pay a tariff to use the passageway. While trying to gain its independence, the new nation had become the subject of international disrespect. A more powerful national government might have resolved these foreign policy and commerce issues, but the Continental Congress did not have the power to intervene.

Copyright 2006 The Regents of the University of California and Monterey Institute for Technology and Education