The US Constitutional Conventional kicked off in Philadelphia 236 years ago today. Like most things American, then and now, it was a big, stinkin’ mess from the get-go. Little states hated big states, poor states hated rich states, slave states really hated free states - and that was the easy stuff. The meeting was born of bitter business disputes between Virginia and Maryland over traffic on the “Patomack” River. The enlightened delegates did decide we’d continue to import slaves for another 21 years. Rhode Island couldn’t even be arsed to show up and the man they chose to lead the whole thing, Washington, didn’t want to be there. He didn’t think the confab would work and he’d have egg on his historical face.
© 2024 John Oliver
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