Crossword Genius

Fear led to reform of the union (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

federal

'the union' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'fear led to reform' is the wordplay.
'to reform' indicates anagramming the letters.
'fear'+'led'='fearled'
'fearled' is an anagram of 'FEDERAL'.

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for federal that I've seen before include "Red leaf (anag.)" , "describing Stateside governance" , "Lad-free (anag)" , "Relating to central government in the US" , "In alliance" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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