The first government of the new United States of American existed from 1777 to the drafting of the US Constitution in the summer of 1787. It was replaced by the drafting of the US Constitution.

Answer the following questions about this government, the people who helped create it, and the events during the 10-year life of this government that led to its replacement with the creation of the Constitution of the United States in 1787.

1. Provide a title and general description of the first government of the United States of America

1a. When and how was it was developed, what was the structure and where did the majority of power in this government reside?

1b. What were the major strengths and/or weaknesses of this new government? Look specifically at issues of taxation, foreign diplomacy, interstate trade, national prestige, both executive and judicial authority.

2. The terms "conservative" and "liberal" are continually misused by modern people to describe North American colonists who wanted to remain part of the British Empire, and colonists who wanted to separate from the British Empire.

Using a standard, but very general, definition of the terms:

"conservative" is someone who resists change, considers any type of change to be "radical," believes in maintaining either the status quo, or returning to some past time period when life was theoretically better.

"liberal" is someone who supports a radical change in the current status quo, and does not believe the past was necessarily better.

Apply these definitions to the following, with a small description and reasons for your labeling. Apply John Locke's "Social Contract" theory if applicable.

2a. Loyalists and Patriots during the American War for Independence.

2b. the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd meetings of the Continental Congress (provide the dates for the convening of these meetings)

2c. John Dickinson

2d. Robert Morris

3. What and when was the Newburgh Conspiracy? Who were major people involved? What was the principal issue that led to this event?

Define and explain how the following was involved:

3a. securities (do not use the modern definition; apply this to the time period under discussion)

3b. Bank of North America

3c. Alexander Hamilton

3d. General Horatio Gates and the Continental Army

3e. Gen. George Washington

4. What and when was the Annapolis Convention? Provide the purpose, whether or not the purpose was accomplished, and the result.

5. What and when was Shays' Rebellion? How is it associated with the first government of the US, and why does it act as a final stimulation
to make a change to that government?

6. Define the following terms, and relate your definition - with examples as appropriate -- to the period of study in this worksheet:

A. republic

B. confederation

C. nationalism

D. democracy

E. federalism.