Perfecting the Union

In "Perfecting the Union," Max M. Edling reexamines the American founding, arguing that the Constitution was designed not only to address internal conflicts but to protect US interests against external threats in the western borderlands and Atlantic Ocean. He contends that, while the Constitution replaced the ineffective Articles of Confederation and enhanced the national government's effectiveness, it did not alter the core purpose of managing inter-state and international relations. Instead, it established a dual government structure, where both federal and state governments played crucial roles in ensuring the welfare of the populace.