Many, even most, Americans today find it difficult to believe there was a time when millions fought and died for Union.  A reason for this lack of understanding is that many Americans simply take for granted that their country is a fixed entity, permanent and indissoluble.  That it could be otherwise is, literally, inconceivable.  Things will not be changing anytime soon, but nowhere is it written that ours will be a nation of fifty states in perpetuity.  Forever is a long time.  Some social scientists compiled data from the Where’s George? project to understand better how Americans currently live their lives in and across the state borders.