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,...
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
