Comparison between the early experience of union in the U.S. and the current experience in the European Community

The creation of the United States as a federal union in 1787 and the European countries' twentieth century attempt to form a closer union are rarely compared. In this thesis, I will compare historically, politically, and economically different experiments in unification. Indeed, there was no long tradition of a quest for a union by the former American colonies, while the idea of European unity is primarily a rediscovery. Although the cultural background proved to be an asset for the American colonies, it was an obstacle for Europe. The contexts of unification are quite dissimilar, but two centuries difference did not erase the problems in the unification process. The same issues are reappearing especially in the areas of sovereignty, economic and financial power. Actually, those experiences are more related than one would assume. The "Old World" may, for once, learn from the "New World" about the terms and conditions of unification.