Preamble
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Analysis
A More Perfect Union
The word union is considered by many to conote a consolitated government as opposed to a confederation. Please note however that the full name of the Articles of Confederation is Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union.
Noah Webster in his 1828 Dictionary definition of the word union uses these words:
7. States united. Thus the United States of America are sometimes called the Union.
Please note that the term United States was considered plural under the Articles and in the early days of the Constitution (as evidenced by the verb are in the definition.)
After the revolutionary war ended it was found that the Articles of Confederation did not make a strong enough union. Something had to be done to keep the federation united. On February 21, 1787 Congress commissioned a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation and report back to Congress and the State Legislatures. The result of the Convention was the Constitution. Although one House of the new Congress was to represent the people of the States, the whole government structure was not to loose its federative nature. The more perfect union is best described as a modified federation.
– a more perfect union
General Welfare
– general welfare
