Confederation period

The Confederation period was the era of United States history in the 1780s after the American Revolution and prior to the ratification of the United States Constitution. In 1781, the United States ratified the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union and prevailed in the Battle of Yorktown, the last major land battle between British and American Continental forces in the American Revolutionary War. American independence was confirmed with the 1783 signing of the Treaty of Paris. The fledgling United States faced several challenges, many of which stemmed from the lack of a strong national government and unified political culture. The period ended in 1789 following the ratification of the United States Constitution, which established a new, more powerful, national government.

Quick facts: United States of America, Status, Capital, Go... ▼

United States of America
1781–1789
Flag Seal
Motto: E pluribus unum (Latin) "Out of many, one"
Anthem: None official
Map of the United States and territories after the Treaty of Paris (1783)
Status	Unrecognized state (Until 1783)
Capital	Philadelphia (1781–1783) Princeton (1783) Annapolis (1783–1784) Trenton (1784) New York City (1784–1789)
Government	Confederal republic
President of the Congress
• 1779–1781	Samuel Huntington (first)
• 1788	Cyrus Griffin (last)
Legislature	Congress of the Confederation
Historical era	American Revolution
• Articles of Confederation	March 1, 1781
• Battle of Yorktown	September 28, 1781
• Philadelphia Mutiny	June 20, 1783
• Treaty of Paris	September 3, 1783
• Constitutional Convention	May 25, 1787
• Shays' Rebellion	August 29, 1786
• States begin ratification of Constitution	December 7, 1787
• 1789 Constitution	March 4, 1789
Currency	Continental Currency
Preceded by Succeeded by United Colonies United States
Today part of	United States Canada

Quick facts: Confederation period... ▼

Confederation period
1781–1789
Chronology American Revolution Federalist Era

The Articles of Confederation established a loose confederation of states with a weak confederal government. An assembly of delegates acted on behalf of the states they represented. This unicameral body, officially referred to as the United States in Congress Assembled, had little authority, and could not accomplish anything independent of the states. It had no chief executive, and no court system. Congress lacked the power to levy taxes, regulate foreign or interstate commerce, or effectively negotiate with foreign powers. The weakness of Congress proved self-reinforcing, as the leading political figures of the day served in state governments or foreign posts. The failure of the national government to handle the challenges facing the United States led to calls for reform and frequent talk of secession.

The Treaty of Paris left the United States with a vast territory spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. Settlement of the trans-Appalachian territories proved difficult, in part due to the resistance of Native Americans and the neighboring foreign powers of Great Britain and Spain. The British refused to evacuate US territory, while the Spanish used their control of the Mississippi River to stymie Western settlement. In 1787, Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance, which set an important precedent by establishing the first organized territory under the control of the national government.

After Congressional efforts to amend the Articles failed, numerous national leaders met in Philadelphia in 1787 to establish a new constitution. The new constitution was ratified in 1788, and the new federal government began meeting in 1789, marking the end of the Confederation period.

This article is part of a series on the
History of the United States
Timeline and periods Prehistoric and Pre-colonial until 1607 Colonial period 1607–1765 1776–1789     American Revolution 1765–1783     Confederation Period 1783–1788 1789–1849     Federalist Era 1788–1801     Jeffersonian Era 1801–1817     Era of Good Feelings 1817–1825     Jacksonian Era 1825–1849 1849–1865     Civil War Era 1849–1865 1865–1918     Reconstruction Era 1865–1877     Gilded Age 1877–1896     Progressive Era 1896–1917 1918–1945     World War I 1917–1918     Roaring Twenties 1918–1929     Great Depression 1929–1941     World War II 1941–1945 1945–1964     Post-World War II Era 1945–1964     Civil Rights Era 1954–1968 1964–1980     Civil Rights Era 1954–1968     Vietnam War 1964–1975 1980–1991     Reagan Era 1981–1991 1991–2008     Post-Cold War Era 1991–2008 2008–present     Modern Era 2008–present
Topics Abortion Agriculture Antisemitism Civil rights Cinema Culture Demographics Direct democracy Economics Energy Education Foreign policy Founding Immigration Labor Medicine Military Army Marine Corps Navy Air Force Space Force Coast Guard Music Religion Socialism Sports Southern Technology and industry Territory Unfree labor
By group African American Asian American Chinese American Filipino American Japanese American Hispanic and Latino Americans Mexican American Irish American Jewish American Native Americans Cherokee Comanche Polish American Women LGBT Gay men Lesbians Transgender
See also Historiography List of years in the United States
United States portal
v t e