Madison’s description of the Achaean Confederacy [FN66] is short, makes no reference to religious underpinnings, and notes that it was dissolved after Alexander’s death. [FN67] The Helvetic Confederacy was chronologically the oldest entity to exist after 1/12

Jesus Christ is said to have lived, that Madison reviewed. [FN68] He rejected “Republic” or “Sovereign State” as titles & in support, notes there was no “common instrument by which they are all reciprocally bound together.” [FN69] Under “Vices of the Constitution,” 2/12

he adds: “3. Intolerance in Religion.” [FN70] The Federalist echoes this sentiment. [FN71] Legend holds that “The Ruli Oath” was sworn at the Helvetic Confederacy’s birth and includes: “‘Let us trust in the Most High God and not be afraid of the power of men.’” [FN72] 3/12

“The Belgic Confederacy,” cited by Madison as “established in 1679 by the treaty called the Union of Utrecht,” was the unifying document that established the Dutch Republic in 1579. [FN73] Madison cites the work to address geographic size of a republic, [FN74] 4/12

and certainly not to address any assertions about religion. That is because Article 13 of the Union of Utrecht states, in relevant part: “each person shall remain free in his religion and that no one shall be investigated or persecuted because of his religion.” [FN75] Finally comes 5/12

The Germanic Confederacy [FN76] a community of sovereigns, was “a nerveless body, incapable of regulating its own members, insecure against external dangers, and agitated with unceasing fermentations in its own bowels.” [FN77] No mention is made of a “Christian” nation, 6/12

Madison’s study of history, his early arrival in Philadelphia, and early arrival of other delegates from Virginia resulted in framework that guided much of the early convention in Philadelphia with Gov Randolph’s introducing the Virginia Plan. 7/12

Footnotes:
N66. “Of Ancient and Modern Confederacies,” The Complete Works of James Madison Annotated): Enriched Edition. Writings on Constitutionalism, Federalism, Liberty, and the Early epublic, p. 901.
N67. Id., p. 903. 8/12

N68. Id.
N69. Id., p. 906.
N70. Id.
N69. Id., p. 904.
N70. Id., p. 906.
N71. “The connection among the Swiss cantons scarcely amounts to a confederacy.” The Federalist No 19 (James Madison with Alexander Hamilton). See also, The Federalist Nos 42 and 43 (James Madison) 9/12

FN72. “‘We will be one nation of brothers, in no adversity or danger shall we be divided. ... Let us trust in the Most High God and not be afraid of the power of men.’” “Wiege der Schweiz,” Myths & Legends, accessed 8/14/26. 10/12

FN73. See, J.C. Boogman, “The Union of Utrecht: its Genesis and Consequences,” 94 Low Countries Hist Rev No 3 (1979), pp. 377-407. The year given in Madison’s work is a typo.
FN74. Id., note 66, p. 908. 11/12

FN75. See, “1579: Birth of the Dutch Republic,” Free Speech History, accessed 8/14/26.
FN76. Id., note 66, p. 915.
FN77. The Federalist No 19 (James Madison with Alexander Hamilton). 12/12