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 seven explains that the federalists initially dominated the ratification process, winning eight ratification conventions in a row, where the only close race was in Massachusetts. Since the constitution would be ratified after nine state conventions voted in favor, ratification appeared inevitable. Until the organizers of the New Hampshire convention postponed the convention because they feared they would lose, which was a problem since ratification was already unlikely in the other states.
Cast of Characters:
Alexander Hamilton-member of the New York State Legislature, former aide to General George Washington, commander of the Continental Army
James Madison-delegate to the Confederation Congress
John Jay-Secretary of Former Affairs, former diplomat to Spain and former president of the Continental Congress
James Wilson-lawyer, former delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence
Elbridge Gerry-delegate to the Confederation Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence
Sam Adams-president of the Massachusetts Senate, delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence
John Hancock-wealthy merchant, First and Third Governor of Massachusetts, formerly president of the Second Continental Congress
Sources:
Franklin & Washington: The Founding Partnership-Edward J. Larson
Radical Hamilton: Economic Lessons from a Misunderstood Founder-Christian Parenti
The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution, 1783-1789-Joseph J. Ellis
The Framers' Coup: The Making of the United States Constitution-Michael J. Klarman
The Return of George Washington: Uniting the States, 1783-1789-Edward J. Larson
Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787-1788-Pauline Maier
Washington: A Life-Ron Chernow
Alexander Hamilton-Ron Chernow
George Washington: A Life-Willard Sterne Randall
James Madison: A Biography-Ralph Ketcham
The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789-Robert Middlekauff
A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic-John Ferling
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 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 II-A Meeting of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government
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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