Confederation period

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== Confederation Period ==

The Confederation Period in United States history refers to the era between the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783 and the establishment of the United States Constitution in 1789. This period is characterized by the governance of the United States under the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution.

Background

The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1777 and ratified by all thirteen states by 1781. The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments.

Key Features

The Confederation Period was marked by several key features:

• **Weak Central Government**: The central government had limited powers, with no authority to levy taxes or regulate commerce.
• **State Sovereignty**: Each state retained its sovereignty, freedom, and independence.
• **Unicameral Legislature**: The Confederation Congress was a single-chamber legislature where each state had one vote.
• **No Executive or Judicial Branch**: There was no separate executive branch or national judiciary.

Challenges

The Confederation Period faced numerous challenges:

• **Economic Disarray**: The national government lacked the power to tax, leading to financial difficulties and an inability to pay debts from the Revolutionary War.
• **Interstate Disputes**: States often engaged in disputes over boundaries and trade.
• **Foreign Relations**: The weak central government struggled to negotiate effectively with foreign powers.

Significant Events

• **Shays' Rebellion**: An armed uprising in 1786-1787 by Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices and the lack of federal response highlighted the weaknesses of the Confederation government.
• **Annapolis Convention**: Held in 1786, this meeting aimed to address trade and commerce issues but ultimately led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention.
• **Constitutional Convention**: In 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia to draft a new constitution, resulting in the creation of the United States Constitution.

Transition to the Constitution

The inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation led to the drafting of the United States Constitution, which established a stronger federal government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The Constitution was ratified by the states and went into effect in 1789, marking the end of the Confederation Period.

Related Pages

• Articles of Confederation
• American Revolutionary War
• Second Continental Congress
• Shays' Rebellion
• Annapolis Convention
• Constitutional Convention
• United States Constitution

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