Book contents
- One Nation Under Law
- One Nation Under Law
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Note on the Text
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part IThe Document
- Part IICreating an American Nation
- 4Text
- 5History
- 6Memory
- Part IIIMaking Government Work
- Part IVLiberty and Equality
- AppendixThe Dunlap Broadside – The First Printing of the Declaration of Independence
- Notes
- Index
5 - History
from Part II - Creating an American Nation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 May 2026
Book contents
- One Nation Under Law
- One Nation Under Law
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Note on the Text
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part IThe Document
- Part IICreating an American Nation
- 4Text
- 5History
- 6Memory
- Part IIIMaking Government Work
- Part IVLiberty and Equality
- AppendixThe Dunlap Broadside – The First Printing of the Declaration of Independence
- Notes
- Index
Summary
This chapter explains how revolutionary Americans understood what had happened in 1776. There is ample evidence showing that they viewed the Declaration as creating one nation, at least with respect to the world. The United States of America was regularly spoken of as a nation and was treated as a nation with respect to issues such as foreign relations and citizenship. The Continental Congress had little hesitation in reversing the decisions of state courts. A functioning confederacy, recognized as such, long predated the Articles of Confederation. The chapter concludes with the case of North Carolina and Rhode Island and argues that they were never formally outside of the United States, even during the period in which they had failed to ratify the US Constitution.
Keywords
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- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- One Nation Under LawThe Meaning of the Declaration of Independence, pp. 69 - 98Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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