Question

Following a directive from the Continental Congress, what was the primary way that the ex-colonies began designing new governments?

a. building new state capitals

b. installing new governors who were appointed by the Continental Congress

c. drafting declarations of independence that listed grievances specific to their state

d. amending their colonial charters or drawing up new written constitutions

Answer 1

d. amending their colonial charters or drawing up new written constitutions

Even before the Continental Congress declared independence from Britain, it instructed the colonies to authorize and design new governments. Almost immediately, Patriots started amending their colonial charters or drawing up new written constitutions - some permanent, some designed simply to cover the war with Britain. V1rginia and New Jersey adopted permanent constitutions within weeks of the congressional call. Over the next two years, eight other states would follow suit, and by the end of the war every rebellious ex-colony had some kind of new constitution in place.