The Constitution Of The United States

Originally Aired: December 8, 1937 In Cavalcade of America #112, "The Constitution Of The United States," the drama illustrates the chaos facing America under the Articles of Confederation. New Jersey farmer Hobbs and his son George discover they must pay customs duties to sell their produce in New York, just as if they were foreigners. At the market, they encounter a Connecticut farmer facing similar frustrations, and a distinguished gentleman who uses a bundle of sticks to demonstrate a powerful lesson: united, the states would be strong, but separate, they remain weak and vulnerable. This man reveals himself to be Alexander Hamilton, advocate for a strong central government. The episode follows the mounting tensions between the states as each imposes its own duties and currencies, treating neighboring Americans as foreign traders. Commissioners from Virginia and Maryland gather at George Washington's Mount Vernon, where Hamilton also visits, to discuss the need for federal cooperation. As these leaders debate the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the challenges facing the young nation, the stage is set for the historic convention that will forge a new Constitution uniting the fractured states into one nation.