What Is The Critical Period
The Critical Period
During the time after the Revolutionary War, the United States of America was plagued with many issues that left them wondering whether or not their country would survive as a nation. This time was coined as the critical period by John Fiske in 1888 with his book 'The Critical Period of American History'. It refers to the 1780s, a time right after the American Revolution where the future of the newly formed nation essentially a coin toss as to whether or not it would “make it” (America’s Critical Period). The war had given the residents of the colonies something to fight for and to work toward. After they succeeded in their independence their feelings of unity seemed to dissolve. They no longer had a common cause, resulting …show more content…
The Articles of Confederation provided for a loose confederation or “firm league of friendship.” Unfortunately a clumsy Congress was the at the helm of the ship that was America. The Articles put no executive branch into place because King George III left unpleasant memories to the new independent states. Although Congress was dominant, it was severely impaired due to its limitations. The Articles of Confederation added to the financial problems, could do nothing to alleviate domestic problems, was unable to deal with diplomatic problems, and caused commercial problems both at home and …show more content…
Disunity seemed to be a prevalent issue that led citizens unsure about how to go about starting a new nation. Economic problems seemed to haunt the citizens of the country. Accumulated war debts loomed over the country as they tried to make a start without their mother country. With Congress having little control over money and each state regulating its own economy inflation skyrocketed, leaving citizens with empty pockets. The Articles of Confederation contributed greatly to this critical period. The Articles added to the financial problems, could do nothing to alleviate domestic problems, was unable to deal with diplomatic problems, and caused commercial problems both at home and overseas. As a country, America had very little respect among other nations causing them to be seen as the “world’s ugly duckling.” All in all, the 1780’s were very disheartening for the newly independent nation as it dealt with critical issues and tried to succeed as an independent
During the time after the Revolutionary War, the United States of America was plagued with many issues that left them wondering whether or not their country would survive as a nation. This time was coined as the critical period by John Fiske in 1888 with his book 'The Critical Period of American History'. It refers to the 1780s, a time right after the American Revolution where the future of the newly formed nation essentially a coin toss as to whether or not it would “make it” (America’s Critical Period). The war had given the residents of the colonies something to fight for and to work toward. After they succeeded in their independence their feelings of unity seemed to dissolve. They no longer had a common cause, resulting …show more content…
The Articles of Confederation provided for a loose confederation or “firm league of friendship.” Unfortunately a clumsy Congress was the at the helm of the ship that was America. The Articles put no executive branch into place because King George III left unpleasant memories to the new independent states. Although Congress was dominant, it was severely impaired due to its limitations. The Articles of Confederation added to the financial problems, could do nothing to alleviate domestic problems, was unable to deal with diplomatic problems, and caused commercial problems both at home and …show more content…
Disunity seemed to be a prevalent issue that led citizens unsure about how to go about starting a new nation. Economic problems seemed to haunt the citizens of the country. Accumulated war debts loomed over the country as they tried to make a start without their mother country. With Congress having little control over money and each state regulating its own economy inflation skyrocketed, leaving citizens with empty pockets. The Articles of Confederation contributed greatly to this critical period. The Articles added to the financial problems, could do nothing to alleviate domestic problems, was unable to deal with diplomatic problems, and caused commercial problems both at home and overseas. As a country, America had very little respect among other nations causing them to be seen as the “world’s ugly duckling.” All in all, the 1780’s were very disheartening for the newly independent nation as it dealt with critical issues and tried to succeed as an independent