The transition of the United States from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution was marked by the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Faced with the weaknesses of the Articles—such as a lack of a strong federal government, inability to tax, and interstate trade disputes—delegates convened in Philadelphia to address these issues. The outcome was the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, which established a stronger federal structure with checks and balances among three branches of government. This event was significant as it provided a framework for governance that has endured for over two centuries and shaped the nation’s democratic principles.