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 Two explains that Secretary of Foreign Affairs John Jay's failure to conclude a treaty with Spain had confirmed to many American political leaders that the Articles of Confederation were fatally flawed, and a more powerful federal government was required. Hoping to build a closer union, James Madison used a failed convention at Annapolis, Maryland as an opportunity to call for a larger convention to be held in Philadelphia next year.
Cast of Characters:
George Washington- former Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, former delegate from Virginia to the Continental Congress
Benjamin Franklin-President of Pennsylvania, former minister to France, former Postmaster General, signer of the Declaration of Independence
John Jay-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, former President of the Continental Congress and former Minister to Spain
James Madison-delegate from Virginia to the Confederation Congress
Alexander Hamilton-member of the New York State Legislature, former aide to General George Washington, commander of the Continental Army
Charles Pinckney-delegate from South Carolina to the Confederation Congress
Henry Knox-Secretary of War, former major-general in the Continental Army
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
The Mexican-American War (1846-1848): Part IX-The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Mexican-American War (1846-48): Part VIII-Vera Cruz and Mexico City
The Mexican-American War (1846-48): Part VII-New Mexico and California
The Mexican-American War (1846-48): Part VI-Vera Cruz and Polkas
The Mexican-American War (1846-48): Part V-The Return of Santa Anna
The Mexican-American War (1846-48): Part IV-54:40 or Fight!
The Mexican-American War (1846-48): Part III-Who Is James Polk?
The Mexican-American War (1846-48): Part II-The Republic of Texas
The Mexican-American War (1846-48): Part I-The Texan Revolution
The Mexican-American War (1846-1848)-Introduction
The Formation of the United States: Part VIII-Ratification Part Two
The Formation of the United States: Part VII-Ratification of the Constitution
The Formation of the United States: Part VI-Plain, Honest Men. The end of the Constitutional Convention.
The Formation of the United States: Part V-Compromises, Compromises and More Compromises
The Formation of the United States: Part IV-The Constitutional Convention
The Formation of the United States: Part III-Shays’ Rebellion
The Formation of the United States: Part I-These United States
The Fomation of the United States of America-Introduction
The Mexican Revolution: Part XIV-The Headless Rebellion and the end of Obregon
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