FEDERAL versus FEDERATION
NATIONAL versus CONFEDERATION

The term "Federal" was used a couple of hundred years ago as a preferred term instead of "National" to define the compact of the Confederation of the Colonies in America. Somehow, in those days, the use of the word "National" to them inferred highly centralized control such as where the various States that had been colonies who were the signers of the Articles of Confederation of 1777 would be dissolved into one large STATE called a NATION or the UNITED STATES. Most of these States (all except four) did not want that at all, fearing such power in the hands of a few. They wanted a compact of Sovereign States not the formation of ONE LARGE STATE or NATION at the expense of the Sovereignty of their individual States.

They had already had enough of that from Great Britain and the King of England.

Strangely, at least to our ears today, they used instead the term "Federal" to define their idea of a United States government with three branches (legislative, judicial and executive) with the power of some of the Sovereignty of the various States for international dealings, but with the real power within remaining with the States individually. It was in this sense that our forefathers used the term "Federal Government" wherein they believed that defined a compact of the sharing of power between the National Government representing them all internationally as a Sovereign and that of the several States individually having power and Sovereignty within the internal territory of the United States.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, however, the term "Federal" today conveys nearly the opposite meaning. For example "Federalism" means the doctrine of a federal organization or central form of government. "Federalize" means to bring under the sole jurisdiction of a central federal government.

"Federation" today, means more what "federal" meant 200 years ago. "Federation" is defined by Webster’s as States united by league or covenant, esp. in forming a sovereign power so that each of the uniting powers retains local powers. Federation, then, embodies the ideas today of "States Rights" while Federal or Federalism infers strong, if not total, central control

"Confederation" both 200 years ago and today means: act of confederating, or state of being confederated; a league; alliance. A confederacy; esp. a body of independent states more or less permanently united for joint action. Union of the American colonies (1781-1789) under a compact called Articles of Confederation.

"National" today has lost some of its impact of earlier days. In the early days "National" meant relating to a nation as a whole; affairs of the United States or its government as opposed to those of the several states. Today, Webster’s Dictionary says: "National" pertains to a nation. Devoted to one’s country’s interests; patriotic. "Federal" has gained today more usage in the place of "National".

"Confederacy" however, has taken a political day definition for the worse since reconstruction after the war between the states which resulted in the occupation of the south. Today it means: A league or compact for mutual support or common action; alliance or; a combination of persons for unlawful purposes as in the Confederate States of America.