technically abandoned state sovereignty when they accepted the
Constitution of 1787, but not until the Civil War had been won was
permanent union assured. Most important of all, American democracy was
in 1787 only a political concept. There was at that time no suspicion
that democracy was later to be expanded into a philosophy of life,
applicable not only to purely governmental affairs, but to the
individual in his economic and social relations as well.


QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

1. Distinguish between local and national spirit in the Revolutionary
period.

2. Describe the first notable attempt at union.

3. What plan of union was proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754?

4. Name several other early attempts at union.

5. Outline the character of the Articles of Confederation.

6. What were the chief defects of the Confederation government?

7. Describe the failure of the Confederation government.

8. Outline clearly the three important reasons for the failure of the
states to unite before 1787.

9. Explain the phrase, "Negative forces favoring union."