The United Federation of Planets was the backbone of the Star Trek universe, and its founding worlds were committed to the same ideals despite being very different. As seen in the events of Star Trek: Enterprise, the founding of the Federation in the 22nd century completely changed the Alpha Quadrant, and its legacy continued well into the 32nd century as well. Its four founding planets each represented the best of what was possible, and they contributed their cultural uniqueness to the further exploration of the galaxy through a mutual agreement of peace. Though they were quite different, their differences actually made them stronger.
When the Earth-Romulan War broke out in 2156, it was eventually won by Earth after an alliance was formed between the principal worlds that would eventually make up the Federation. Less than a decade later in the Star Trek timeline in the year 2161, the United Federation of Planets would be officially founded. The Federation allowed each world that joined to remain autonomous, but their inclusion bound them to a specific set of standards that involved the pursuit of peace for all sentient life in the galaxy. Though the Federation's expansion was rocky, its success was largely due to the planets that helped form the original core of the UFP.
