By Edward J. Larson
Library book
So, I just finished Ratification a decent if not sleepy tome on the Constitution. And in conjunction with that, and coming out at a similar time is this book by Larson. It picks up where the Revolution ends, and tells a version of the story of America's very early days. I frequently enjoy time traveling to this era. I find that alot of what transpires today in polktics and government is explained here at the source.
5 Washington returns his commission to Congress and this scene is later immortalized by John Trumbull a student of Benjamin West, in a painting that currently hangs in the Capitol's Rotunda. I encourage you to view paintings from this era and with these themes--very enlightening and refreshing.
62 Washington becomes president of a company that tries to open navigation on the Potomac River. If becomes and entangled mess between Virginia and Maryland and Pennsylvania. The trials and tribulations experienced by this endeavor are what spark the calling of the Annapolis Convention to regulate interstate commerce. This of course leads to the Constitutional Convention and history.
I watched The Crossing last night which is a dramarazation of the crossing of the Delaware and subsequent attack on the Hessians at Trenton. George Washinvton was a bad ass! In the movie he speaks to the defeatist attitude of his generals by simply saying "as long as I command so much as aa corporal's guard I shall endeavor." Wow!
Pg 184 And now we are at the part of the story which is ratification. Honorable mention here of Maier's book on this subject which I just finished prior to this. An exhausting tome, but we got through it.
Books:
Douglas Southhall Freeman's Six Volume classic
James Thomas Flexner's four volume work
Chernow Washington A Life
Jack Rakove Original Meaning
This book Washington helped finance
Travels Through North and South Carolina
http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/bartram/menu.html
An Imperfect Union: Slavery, Federalism, and Comity
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