1978: NOAA announces gender-neutral hurricane naming system
Federal News Network presents a daily update of important moments in the history of the U.S. government.
After 16 months of debate, the Continental Congress agreed to adopt the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union on Nov. 15, 1777. It became law on March 1, 1781, when Maryland became the 13th and last state to ratify the document. Patriot leaders had been reluctant to establish any form of government that might infringe on the right of individual states to govern their own affairs. The Articles of Confederation provided for only a loose federation of American states. Congress was a single house, with each state having one vote, and a president elected to chair the assembly. Although Congress did not have the right to levy taxes, it did have authority over foreign affairs and could regulate a national army and declare war and peace. Amendments to the Articles required approval from all 13 states. Less than five years after its ratification, enough leading Americans decided that the system was inadequate to the task of governance that they peacefully overthrew their second government in just over 20 years. On March 4, 1789, the modern United States was established when the Constitution formally replaced the Articles of Confederation.
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