Final answer:
From the time of the Declaration of Independence until the ratification of the Constitution, the United States operated under the Articles of Confederation, which created a weak central government. The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the need for a stronger federal constitution, which was ratified with the addition of the Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the time of the Declaration of Independence until the ratification of the Constitution, the United States functioned without a constitution to guarantee liberty. The United States initially operated under the Articles of Confederation, which created a weak central government with limited powers.
However, the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation became apparent, as the states were autonomous and had the power to ignore laws passed by the national government. This lack of a strong centralized authority and the inability to enforce laws led to a sense of disunity among the states.
To address these issues, the Constitutional Convention was held in 1787 to create a new federal constitution. The process of ratifying the Constitution was not without challenges, as some states were concerned about the concentration of power in the federal government. In response to these concerns, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual liberties and protecting the rights of the states.