The eras of federalism in the United States ordered by when they first started, from earliest to most recent, are:
- Dual Federalism (approximately 1789 to 1930s) — Started with the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1789. This era is characterized by distinct and separate powers for the federal and state governments, each acting within their own spheres without much overlap. Sometimes called "layer-cake federalism".
- Cooperative Federalism (circa 1930s to 1960s) — Began during the Great Depression era, marked by increased collaboration and shared responsibilities between federal and state governments, with expanded federal involvement through programs like New Deal initiatives. Referred to as "marble-cake federalism" because state and federal governments work together more fluidly.
- Creative Federalism (around 1960 to late 1960s) — An extension of cooperative federalism under President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society program, further expanding federal power through increased grants and regulations.
- New Federalism (since late 1960s or early 1970s to present) — A shift toward returning some powers back to states, characterized by changing grant systems and concerns over federal mandates, starting around 1969-1970.
This is the general sequence of the major eras of federalism in U.S. history from earliest to most recent. If the question refers specifically to the main three commonly studied eras, they would be Dual Federalism (1789-1930s), Cooperative Federalism (1930s-1960s), and New Federalism (late 1960s onward) in that order.
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