Perpetual Union

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Perpetual Union refers to the concept of a lasting and enduring union among the states of the United States of America. This idea was first articulated in the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781.

Historical Background

The term "Perpetual Union" was prominently featured in the Articles of Confederation, which declared that the union of the states "shall be perpetual." The Articles of Confederation served as the governing document for the United States until it was replaced by the United States Constitution in 1789. The concept of a perpetual union was intended to ensure that the states remained united and that the union would endure indefinitely.

Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States, drafted by the Second Continental Congress in 1777 and ratified by the states in 1781. The Articles established a confederation of sovereign states with a weak central government, which had limited powers. The Articles explicitly stated that the union of the states "shall be perpetual," emphasizing the enduring nature of the union.

United States Constitution

The United States Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation in 1789, also embodies the principle of a perpetual union. The Preamble to the Constitution begins with the words "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union," indicating the intention to create a lasting and enduring union among the states. The Constitution established a stronger central government with the power to enforce laws and maintain the union.

Civil War and Perpetual Union

The concept of a perpetual union was a central issue during the American Civil War. The southern states, which formed the Confederate States of America, claimed the right to secede from the union. However, President Abraham Lincoln and the Union government maintained that the union was perpetual and that secession was illegal. The Union's victory in the Civil War reaffirmed the principle of a perpetual union and the indivisibility of the United States.

Legal Interpretations

The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld the principle of a perpetual union in several landmark cases. In the case of Texas v. White (1869), the Court ruled that the union of the states is indissoluble and that states do not have the right to secede from the union. The Court's decision reinforced the idea that the United States is a single, indivisible entity.

Related Pages

• Articles of Confederation
• United States Constitution
• American Civil War
• Confederate States of America
• Abraham Lincoln
• Texas v. White