For the answer to the question above, o<span>ne of the federal government's most important responsibilities to the states is Defense. The Constitution grants the Federal Government the authority to raise an </span>Army<span> to fight wars on land and a </span>Navy<span> to protect American shipping. When the Barbary Pirates were hurting American shipping and costing a fortune, the Navy had to attack the pirate headquarters in Tripoli. They needed a Land Arm, so the </span>Marine Corps<span> was instituted. (Actually, it had a very brief life during the Revolution, but was disbanded very shortly after). That's why the Marine Hymn says "To the shores of Tripoli". </span>
<span>Of course, there were no planes back when the Constitution was written, but the </span>Army<span> formed an </span>Air Corps<span> during WWI, which fought in that war and in WWII. Shortly after WWII, the Army Air Corps became the </span><span>Air Force.</span>
