The Formation of the United States: Part VII-Ratification of the Constitution

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