In this Episode:

• The life of Gouverneur Morris, drafter of the U.S. Constitution.
• Morris’ work in New York politics.
• Morris as chief advocate for the Continental Army.
• Morris’ role in the Constitutional Convention.
• Morris’ dealings with England and later role as Minister to France during the French Revolution.
• Morris and northern secession.

In this Episode:

• The  final debates at the Constitutional Convention center on signing questions.
• Elbridge Gerry, George Mason and Edmund Randolph all voice displeasure with the document and refuse to sign.
• A committee on style is formed to write the Constitution.
• A Bill of Rights is proposed and debated, but soundly defeated, only for the issue to be resurrected again during the ratification debates.
• Washington supports a measure to increase representation in the House to win over dissenters, but the dissenters refuse to sign.
• The Constitution is signed and the debate for its ratification begins.

In this Episode:

• The life of Roger Sherman, signer of America’s first four founding documents.
• Sherman lives the typical American life beginning as a cobbler and ending as a national statesman.
• Sherman’s political and legal career in Connecticut.
• Sherman’s role in the Continental Congress and in drafting the Declaration of Independence.
• Colleagues praise Sherman’s character.
• Sherman’s role in the Great Compromise.
• Sherman’s deep religious beliefs and strident opposition to paper money.

In this Episode:

• The battle over representation nears a compromise.
• Oliver Ellsworth reintroduces Roger Sherman’s “Connecticut Compromise.”
• Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer misses the vote, thus allowing Maryland to support the small states men.
• Georgia also splits their vote on account of Abraham Baldwin.
• The Gerry Committee is formed largely with small state sympathizers.
• The committee affirms equal representation in the Senate, but proportional in the House along with money bills originating in the House.
• These concessions permit the small state men to be open to other large state proposals.

In this Episode:

• The debate continues between the small state men favoring equal representation and the large state men favoring proportional representation.
• Tensions reach a critical mass.
• Benjamin Franklin calls for prayer before each session.
• Were the Founding Fathers deists?
• The men from Connecticut prepare to propose a compromise.
• The delegates end June in despair, almost ready to concede that an agreement could not be reached.

In this Episode:

• Alexander Hamilton’s life, part one of two.
• Hamilton’s early life as an orphaned and illegitimate son.
• Hamilton’s time at King’s College in New York City and his growing interest in the revolution and military strategy and tactics.
• Hamilton forms his own militia and later contributes significantly to several famous Revolutionary War battle.
• Hamilton’s post-war career includes law and the founding of the Bank of New York.
• Hamilton’s role in the founding of a new government.

In this Episode:

• Resuming the events taking place in Independence Hall.
• Summary of the large state advantage.
• Brief biography of William Paterson.
• William Paterson proposes New Jersey plan for small states to rally behind.
• The large states respond.

In this Episode:

• James Wilson, his life and contributions to the Constitutional Convention.
• Wilson’s early life in Scotland.
• Wilson’s close relationship with John Dickinson and Benjamin Franklin.
• Wilson’s public service and influence.
• Wilson’s bad land deals and other legal problems that lead to his demise.
• Wilson’s place in history.

In this Episode:

• Edmund Randolph introduces the Virginia Plan, an effort to increase the strength of the national government
• At the center of the Virginia Plan was Proportional Representation, a concept widely supported by the delegates from the large states.
• The small state delegates react negatively to any change.  They enjoyed Equal Representation under the Articles of Confederation.
• Intense debate over representation divides the convention.
• The large states dominate but push too far as the small states begin to push back.

In this Episode:

• The beginning of the Constitutional Convention.
• George Washington presides over the Convention.
• James Madison keeps detailed notes of each day’s happenings.
• Delaware asserts the rights of small states while reading state’s instructions.
• The Rules of the Convention are laid down.
• Large state delegates come to the Convention better prepared.

In this Episode:

• A short look at the 55 delegates, part 2.
• Delegates from New York, New Hampshire, Maryland, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina.
• Notable convention absences.

In this Episode:

• The city of Philadelphia during the Constitutional Convention.
• An overview of the Constitutional Convention delegates.
• Notable Constitutional Convention absences.
• A short look at the 55 delegates, part 1.
• Delegates from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Delaware.

In this Episode:

• James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, Part I.
• Madison’s formative years.
• Madison’s study of republics and his criticism of the Articles of Confederation.
• Madison’s notes on the Constitution.
• Madison’s role in the Federalist Papers.
• Madison, his home state of Virginia and his dealings with rival Patrick Henry.

In this Episode:

• Discussions of trade and commerce between Virginia and Maryland regarding the Potomac River at the Mount Vernon Conference.
• The formation of the Potomac Company.
• Interstate Commerce meeting at the Annapolis Convention.
• Question of the adequacy of the Articles of Convention.
• The proposal of a new convention in Philadelphia and the approval by the Confederation Congress .

In this Episode:

• The challenges of the Articles of Confederation (continued from last week).
• Tension between the Confederation Congress and the state legislatures.
• Early foreign policy concerns.
• Interstate commerce, tariffs, currency, and internal strife.
• Founding era demographics and ways of life.

In this Episode:

• Introduction to the Constitutional Convention and the weekly podcast
• The road to the convention: The Revolutionary War
• The road to the convention: The American confederation debate
• The road to the convention: The Articles of Confederation
• The issues of the convention: Representation, Taxation, Slavery, State Sovereignty and much more.