Federal Powers and Separation of Powers

Prior to the war, the colonists formed the First Continental Congress in September of 1774 to send a message to Great Britain that they would not tolerate deprivation of their life, liberty, and property. There was no real effort, however, to form a central government until the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation in 1777. While the Articles established a national legislature with a one vote per state system, it only succeeded in forming a loose collection of states, not a strong national government. The latter did not occur until after Britain agreed to recognize colonial independence in the Treaty of Paris in 1783.