United Federation of Planets/History/22nd Century: Difference between revisions

The Centaurans had the least experience with spaceflight, having only traveled to their next closest in-system neighbor a mere hundred years before they encountered Earth’s starships. The Andorians developed spaceflight around the Earth year 1800. Ranx, the first Tellarite to design, build, and fly a rocket ship, did so in Earth year 1867. The Vulcans achieved spaceflight in their very distant past. The Romulans are believed to have exiled themselves from Vulcan over two thousand years ago, supporting the theory of ancient Vulcan interstellar travel.

United Earth ships encountered the Andorians and followed the Centaurans to Tellar, and their resourceful crews made fast alliances with these newly discovered races. Earth founded colonies and expanded its influence across space; many human groups dissatisfied with the United Earth left to found their own, more isolated, colonies as well. When Earth encountered the Romulans in 2156, she commanded the respect of her allies and had the most powerful fleet of any Federation founding member. The dangers faced by Earth forces made the people of Earth realize how important their interstellar allies were to human destiny, and, before the war ended, politicians were carefully considering the merits of a galactic government.

The five founding members of the Federation spent all of 2160 hammering out the Article of Federation. The Articles of Federation established an economic structure as well as a government, and, most importantly, they protected the rights of every Federation citizen. They were a testament to peace and the vision of all five founding worlds. Once the Terran Conventions of 2160 ended, the only step left for incorporation was ratification of the Articles by the member planets.

Each of the five founding member worlds had their own reaction to the Articles. Tellar, Alpha Centauri and Vulcan all agreed rather quickly. Political factions dueling on Andoria slowed the process somewhat, but eventually they agreed as well. Earth was the last to agree, and isolationist groups that did not want it took this opportunity to leave Earth. But finally, all agreed and met in Paris and San Francisco for a signing ceremony.