America’s farewell to the British Empire did not go as smoothly as history books depict. When negotiations began in 1782, George Washington’s troops were on the verge of revolt. A majority of leaders in Congress did not want a union—but rather the appearance of a union, followed by the creation of thirteen independent nation-states. The federal government was bankrupt following the war, and appeals to Spain and others for a loan were dismissed. In Paris, Franklin’s cohorts, John Jay and John Adams, ran out of money while traveling Europe in search of funding and alliances. Adams was the
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