Before the 1930s, the relationship between the federal government and the states is often referred to as "dual federalism." During this period, which really dates from the early nineteenth century, the federal government was nothing like it is today. Rather, it was conceived as an essential coequal power with the states while maintaining at least theoretical supremacy. States, especially southern states, often vigorously protested federal assertions of power. The Civil War, and the Fourteenth Amendment that followed, did not substantively reverse this trend in the short term. Significant leaders during this period were such opponents of expansive power as Thomas Jefferson and John C. Calhoun (neither of whom were especially consistent on this issues) and proponents of an expanded role for the national government as Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall and longtime Whig politician Henry Clay.
The second important period of federalism is sometimes called that of "cooperative federalism." Some historians date this period to the turn of the century and the Progressive Era, when the federal government began to assert its authority by regulating the economy. But the crucial turning point for this period was the Great Depression and the New Deal of the 1930s. The New Deal programs ushered in a much-expanded view of the role of the federal government and its powers. After World War II, many states cooperated with the federal government in return for grants that, while actually administered by the states, came with federal requirements. The central figure of these changes was Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose vision lay behind the New Deal.
A final very important period (and it should be acknowledged that political scientists and historians find several pivotal eras) was the so-called "conservative revolution" of the 1980s. Associated with President Ronald Reagan, it is sometimes seen as an extension of the "New Federalism" that characterized the presidency of Richard Nixon. Under Reagan, grants to states were cut back in ways that allowed for the states to have more influence over who received them (though they also often cut funding). The "New Federalism" is generally viewed as a retreat from a robust federal government, and many modern conservatives, who entered politics during this era, still argue from a states rights perspective against federal programs.
https://usa.usembassy.de/etexts/gov/federal.htm
There have been more than three periods of federalism, so there are different ways to answer this question. However, there are some important milestones and divisions in the practice of federalism in the U.S.
During the period called "dual federalism" (1836-1933), states and the federal government vied for power. There was tension between the power of the states and power of the federal government, which came to a head in the Civil War of 1861-1865. However, Lincoln led the federal government to have more power through his role in using the government to expand the country economically; for example, he funded the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.
During the period of "cooperative federalism" (1933-1961), the states and the federal government worked together cooperatively. The federal government developed the authority to regulate the states and other government agencies. An example is the New Deal agencies established by Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression. Many of these agencies worked through the states to provide relief and jobs to people.
There have been different periods of federalism since 1961. One period was "New regulatory federalism" (1981-1989) under Ronald Reagan, in which the role of the federal government was cut back.
The future of federalism might continue along the current track, in which states are given some latitude to implement federal programs. While Obama has pushed certain initiatives, states have continued to have some degree of latitude in implementing policies. Especially because many states have been financially ailing, the federal government has at times used the "carrot and stick" approach to try to get states to do what they want by offering funding in return. For example, the states were tasked with implementing Obama's new healthcare law.
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/gov310/CF/stagesfed/
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