IntroductionIt may seem strange today, but the expression "the United States of America is" was in common use to refer to our nation. Although seemingly absurd given the current understanding of the United States, the use of the plural reflects the general belief that the Constitution of the United States of America was binding on otherwise independent sovereign states. The belief that the American Union was a bond not of individuals, but of independent states, was ultimately the legal basis for the succession of North Carolina in 1861, the so-called formation of the Confederate States of America and of the resulting civil war. After years of bloodshed and terror, this conception of the Union was repudiated on the battlefields and in the courts, and with “the United States is,” the United States became. clear statement in Article I, Section Four, that North Carolina will always be part of the Union and its citizens will always be Americans. Although this idea is taken for granted in modern times, recent rhetoric in all states, including our own, once again suggests that the United States of America may not be a eternal union. As we approach the 150th anniversary of the framing of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, we must appreciate the blood and treasure that was lost to allow this simple idea of ​​enduring national unity to endure today and in perpetuity. This seems ridiculous today; before the Civil War, a state's right to secede from the Union was considered by many scholars to be a legitimate exercise of state sovereignty, well preceded in the history of our nation and inherent in middle of paper. ...... Although the governor's veto of the bill prevented it from becoming law, its passage by a majority of both houses of state government reflects a growing trend toward legitimacy in the federal government. As we approach the 150th anniversary of the North Carolina Constitution of 1868, let us commemorate the prohibition of secession in Article I, Section Four. While there is little reason to believe that North Carolina will ever dare attempt to secede from the United States of America, it is important to remember the blood and treasure lost to make this as certain. Despite the magnitude of the differences between each state, whether political or cultural, we must remember that we are much better united. Regardless of current rhetoric, due to section four, "the United States of America is" will never replace "the United States of America is »..”