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1777 - The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Second Continental Congress, giving the United States their first formal constitution. Until that time, the central government had been what historians often describe as a mess.

The Articles of Confederation proved to be yet another set of compromises that satisfied no one. They were not ratified until 1781, and remained in effect barely ten years.

One notable provision of the Articles of Confederation was that the President was elected by Congress every session and had very limited powers. He was not the commander in chief of the armed forces. Most of the presidents served less than a year.

Consider how different the history of the U.S. would have been if that system had remained in effect.

- Jim

Russell wrote:A lot better?

Actually not... the articles of confederation lacked the separation of powers (check and balance) we benefit from today. Imagine if you will the current leadership for 2009 and no judicial branch of the government. The congress and president would be a de facto oligarchy until 2012.

Because of the constitution and the separation of powers to balance the government, we the people can get rid of 1/3 the senate and all of the congress in 2 years...

Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government had no power to tax or borrow money and no way to enforce its will on the states, which were much more explicitly sovereign. It would never have become as large and powerful as it has.

Under the Articles of Confederation, the Louisiana Purchase probably would not have occurred, and the U.S. may have lost the War of 1812. The people of the northeast might be living in the British North America today. Texas might still be a state of Mexico.

The U.S. came pretty close to losing the War of 1812 as it was.

BTW, the Louisiana Purchase was the first significant exercise of presidential power not defined in the Constitution. Jefferson simply spent the money on his own initiative. But that's the topic for another day.

- Jim