development of American democracy. And yet it is an indispensable
chapter, for it demonstrated, far more convincingly than could any
theoretical argument, that there must be one great American nation
rather than thirteen or more unrelated republics. Six years of
practical experience with the Articles of Confederation taught the
absolute necessity of a strong central government. The weaknesses of
the Confederation government constituted the most spectacular of the
forces favoring union in 1787, and yet these forces were negative in
character: the states accepted the Constitution of 1787 not so much
because they were attracted by it, as because they saw little chance
of getting along without it.

29. POSITIVE FORCES FAVORING UNION.--It should be noted, on the other
hand, that for a long period previous to the adoption of the
Constitution of 1787, certain positive forces were impelling the
states toward union. In their Old World homes most of the settlers had
occupied somewhat the same social position, and had been used to
somewhat the same economic conditions. This common background
constituted, in their New World homes, a unifying force of great
importance. Long before 1787, too, the great majority of the settlers
were of English descent, speaking the English language, and, except
for the Roman Catholics of Maryland, professing some form of
Protestantism.

In spite of the numerous jealousies and rivalries among the various
sections of the country, there were at work forces which tended to
break down the spirit of localism or provincialism. Though the
Revolution established thirteen separate states, the war had
encouraged the Americans to feel that they were a single people with a
common destiny. The soldiers of various sections had rubbed elbows