In order to support and protect their newly-won freedoms, the Second Continental Congress proposed an Article of Confederation in 1777 to the thirteen colonies, and it was ratified by March 1, 1781. It has been said that these Articles provided the United States with an effective government from the time of its ratification until 1789, upon which time the current Constitution was widely accepted. It can certainly be said that it provided an effective government in terms of territory, …showed first 75 words of 564 total…

…showed last 75 words of 564 total…to provide a temporary government which would calm the lands from 1781 until a permanent government was established. It can be expected that the Articles were not designed to bring prosperity to the Americas, merely stability. Once the war had calmed and the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, the present-day constitution was able to be put into effect, leading to the goals which the Articles had outlined but had never had the power to accomplish.