3.1: John Dickinson, Architect of the Articles of Confederation

History: Beyond the Textbook

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It's 1783, and military mutinies are intermittently breaking out across the United States. This, and other, issues stem from problems with the first official “national” government of the United States: the Articles of Confederation, of which today's key figure wrote the first draft. He served as foil for John Adams during the fight to declare independence…but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a believer in the United States, and he would be well-positioned to address the simmering tensions among the military that almost led to the destruction of the new federal government. In today’s episode of History: Beyond the Textbook, we explore the Architect of the Articles of Confederation, John Dickinson and his role in quelling the Philadelphia Mutiny of 1783.
Key People
John Dickinson
George Washington
Alexander Hamilton
Robert Morris
Key Events
Pennsylvania Line Mutiny of 1783
Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer
Olive Branch Petition
Articles of Confederation

The third season of History: Beyond the Textbook focuses on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Crucial Years" of 1783-1790, and runs from October 8-December 24. Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," and Season Two, "America's Revolution," wherever you listen to your podcasts!
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