The Formation of the United States: Part I-These United States

The Confederation Period lasted from 1783 to 1789. Following the end of the American Revolution in 1783, the newly independent states retained their sovereignty but were part of a confederation of states with a weak federal government. After it became clear that the confederation could not handle the challenges facing the states, a convention was held in Philadelphia which produced a constitution that created a new nation with a stronger federal government. Episode One explains that the newly independent states had to deal with Britain's attempt to strangle their economy while struggling to pay off the debts from the war. Making matters worse, resentment was brewing in the frontier regions, which wanted to form their own states because they felt they were neglected by the existing states. So, the states had won their freedom but faced problems that the government could not handle.

 

Cast of Characters:

Benjamin Franklin-President of Pennsylvania, former minister to France, former Postmaster General, signer of the Declaration of Independence

Robert Morris-businessman, former Superintendent of Finance, signer of the Declaration of Independence

James Wilson-lawyer, signer of the Declaration of Independence

Henry Knox-Secretary of War, former major-general in the Continental Army

Arthur St. Clair-President of the Confederation Congress, former major-general in the Continental Army

William Duer-secretary of the Confederation's Treasury Board

Thomas Jefferson-Minister to France, former governor of Virginia and signer of the Declaration of Independence

 

Sources:

Franklin & Washington: The Founding Partnership-Edward J. Larson

Founding Finance: How Debt, Speculation, Foreclosures, Protests, and Crackdowns Made Us a Nation-William Hogeland

The Age of Federalism: The Early American Republic, 1788-1800-Stanley Elkins & Eric McKitrick

The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution, 1783-1789-Joseph J. Ellis

American Creation-Joseph J. Ellis

The Framers' Coup: The Making of the United States Constitution-Michael J. Klarman

Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution-Woody Holton

The Return of George Washington: Uniting the States, 1783-1789-Edward J. Larson

Washington: A Life-Ron Chernow

His Excellency: George Washington-Joseph J. Ellis

George Washington: A Life-Willard Sterne Randall

Radical Hamilton: Economic Lessons from a Misunderstood Founder-Christian Parenti

Alexander Hamilton-Ron Chernow

Alexander Hamilton: A Life-Willard Sterne Randall

James Madison: A Biography-Ralph Ketcham

Robert Morris: Financier of the American Revolution-Charles Rappleye

The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789-Robert Middlekauff

The Forging of the Union 1781-1789-Richard B. Morris

 

Image Credit:

Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States, by Howard Chandler Christy (1940) - The Indian Reporter, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=662340