How Critical Was the Critical Period?

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How Critical was the Critical Period? The Critical Period was perhaps the most vulnerable, yet essential time frame in modern American history. While the American revolutionaries had fought for radical ideologies during the war, they were put to the ultimate test: being able to realistically apply their ideals to the creation of a governing body. The United States union could have disassembled, but chose to rise above and overcome the challenges that lay before it. Given the union's vulnerability at this time, this was a particularly problematic era; however, it also enjoyed some success: the affiliation between the states, formation of a written constitution, and the establishment of a national identity. During the Critical Period, there was an internal power struggle between the state governments and the newly formed central government , with the states resisting the relinquishment of some of their power to the union. The central government couldn't function properly, as a result of lack of cooperation among the member states. Foreign powers became aware of this struggle, and exploited the union's weakness to their advantage. The foreign powers attempted to disunite the confederacy, primarily through boundary disputes and treaty violations. By "attacking" the United States' at its most vulnerable state, these foreign powers were able to expand their influence in North America and essentially bully the country. Due to the costly expenses of the Revolution, and despite the American's work-ethic and abundance of resources, the country entered into an economic depression. There was an increasing amount of state and individual debt, and a growing amount of domestic discontent by the working class. This depression further divided the American states into those who were debtors, and those who were creditors. The growing discontentment, along with the lack of
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