This influential work of American historical scholarship traces the political and social developments of the newly-formed United States in the years immediately following the Revolutionary War. Fiske's broader narrative is focused on the creation of a federal government and the drafting of the Constitution, but also includes detailed analysis of events such as Shays' Rebellion and the debates over slavery in the continental congress. The book remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in the early history of the United States.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

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