Georgia Constitution of 1777 and Articles of Confederation

Introduction

Georgia Constitution of 1777 and Articles of Confederation In 1777, shortly after the infamous Declaration of Independence, Georgia’s provincial congress met to create a new independent state constitution. Its key characteristics included a separation of powers with a clearly defined executive, legislative, and judicial branches. While the document had strengths it also had many weaknesses. A few short years later, before the Revolutionary War ended, the Continental Congress drafted a provision for the national government known as the Articles of Confederation. Just like our state constitution it also had strengths and weaknesses within the document.

Georgia’s Constitution of 1777

Succeeded in creating separate branches and protecting basic rights, but failed by putting too much power in the hands of the legislative branch.

Key features of the Constitution:

Unicameral (one house) legislature received the majority of the power
Legislature elected a governor, 12 man executive council, and other state officials.
Governor served one term
Superior Court for each county was created
Protection of freedom of religion, freedom of press, and trial by jury established

Articles of Confederation

Served as the United States’ first national constitution.
Ratified 1781
Succeeded in establishing a new nation, which allowed citizens elect people to represent them (republic form of government).
Government under the Articles:
- Single chamber Congress
- No president
- 1 delegate from each state to manage government when Congress not assembled
- Each state=1 vote without regards to population size
- Most powers were lawmaking powers

Articles of Confederation created a weak government after Revolutionary war, states then went their own way and began to quarrel.

Weaknesses of Confederation:

No officials to carry out laws
No national courts
Couldn’t change Articles easily: required all 13 states to vote unanimously
Congress lacked powers to collect taxes
Government couldn’t regulate foreign or domestic trade
Each state coined its own money

Articles failed: National government had no power to operate effectively and people tended to think of themselves as belonging to a state instead of a nation.

Review

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Think About This

The government of both The United States and Georgia were coming together to form a foundation of democracy. Unfortunately, both began with very weak Constitutions. Within those initial documents strengths could be found in traditions. These strengths will be rewritten and create the strong republic that we are today. As we move forward we will look at the second and lasting government of the United States, The Constitution. Georgia will continue to have growing pains through several more constitutions.

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