The Revolution of America terminated when that of France began.
[Footnote a: See the articles of the first confederation formed in 1778.
This constitution was not adopted by all the States until 1781.

See also the analysis given of this constitution in "The Federalist" from No.

15 to No.

22, inclusive, and Story's "Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States," pp.

85-115.] [Footnote b: Congress made this declaration on February 21, 1787.] [Footnote c: It consisted of fifty-five members; Washington, Madison, Hamilton, and the two Morrises were amongst the number.] [Footnote d: It was not adopted by the legislative bodies, but representatives were elected by the people for this sole purpose; and the new constitution was discussed at length in each of these assemblies.] Summary Of The Federal Constitution Division of authority between the Federal Government and the States--The Government of the States is the rule, the Federal Government the exception.
The first question which awaited the Americans was intricate, and by no means easy of solution: the object was so to divide the authority of the different States which composed the Union that each of them should continue to govern itself in all that concerned its internal prosperity, whilst the entire nation, represented by the Union, should continue to form a compact body, and to provide for the general exigencies of the people.