USA remains a confederation

I was wondering if there is anyway for the United States to be remain a loose confederation of states or at least for centralisation to fail ala Gran Colombia
 
I don't know how long the Union could stay together, had the Philadelphia Convention failed.
 
Lots of potential for strife

There were a lot of conflicting land claims that would have eventually led to chaos--including a bunch of chaotic little mini-states on the western side of the Appalachians. Think Moderators and Regulators written large and going on and on. The Indians would have probably gotten screwed over in the eastern US even more thoroughly than they were historically because there wouldn't be any authority to even theoretically and sporadically keep settlers off their land.
 

Thande

Donor
There were a lot of conflicting land claims that would have eventually led to chaos--including a bunch of chaotic little mini-states on the western side of the Appalachians. Think Moderators and Regulators written large and going on and on. The Indians would have probably gotten screwed over in the eastern US even more thoroughly than they were historically because there wouldn't be any authority to even theoretically and sporadically keep settlers off their land.

Yes. Oddly enough I was just looking at a map of it...

Virginiacolony.png
 
Yes. Oddly enough I was just looking at a map of it...

Every time I see that Map, or other maps of the Colonies' conflicting claims, I am reminded how astoundingly capable the Founding Father's of America were to keep that mess from blowing up.
 

Thande

Donor
Every time I see that Map I am reminded how astoundingly capable the Founding Father's of America were to keep that mess from blowing up.

I have to agree. Their compromise seems to have been "Fine! If you can't agree on how to split it up none of you are having any of it!"
 
Every time I see that Map, or other maps of the Colonies' conflicting claims, I am reminded how astoundingly capable the Founding Father's of America were to keep that mess from blowing up.

That map reminds me of Eddy Izzard's routine about the cunning use of flags.
 
There were a lot of conflicting land claims that would have eventually led to chaos--including a bunch of chaotic little mini-states on the western side of the Appalachians. Think Moderators and Regulators written large and going on and on. The Indians would have probably gotten screwed over in the eastern US even more thoroughly than they were historically because there wouldn't be any authority to even theoretically and sporadically keep settlers off their land.

But Dale, the conflicting land claims you look at as a potential powder keg that only the Constitution could solve...were almost entirely solved prior to the adoption of the Constitution. Several were solved years and years before hand.

You guys singularly under-estimate the ability of the confederation to stick together. Your ideas of post-war chaos are overblown and, not surprisingly, heavily influenced by Federalist political propaganda. Remember, just because it was written a long time ago doesn't mean it's a valid historical source ;)

The US was in a dangerous position in the 1780's, most notably because of the absolute chaos the economy was in because of the post-war hyperinflation, but this need not be a permanent state. In fact, the very historical course of events demonstrates that it is possible for the country to turn around. All that's left is to determine whether the historical course of events was necessary to the turn around. Can the hyperinflation be addressed without an incorporated Federal government? Can the states address inter-state disputes without an incorporated Federal government?

These are questions that need to be addressed to properly answer this question, rather than simply assuming we have the answer and dismissing further investigation as un-necessary. Perhaps the reason so many topics like this get made is that it has never been properly addressed or thoroughly explored.
 
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