The pivotal event that led to the establishment of the federal government in America was the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Following the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which failed to effectively govern the newly independent states and address financial issues and interstate conflicts, delegates from twelve states convened in Philadelphia. They drafted the U.S. Constitution, creating a strong federal government with checks and balances among three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial. The Constitution established a framework for governance that fixed earlier deficiencies, allowing for a more unified and democratic national structure, ultimately ratified in 1788 and influential in shaping American political evolution.