Hello and welcome to a history of the United States. Episode 48, Nullification. Remember that this is a listener-supported podcast.

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Special thanks to our newest pioneer, listen to Margaret. Thank you. I couldn't do the show without you.

In our last episode, we looked at the ups and downs of the New England Confederation during the

1640s. We looked at its various dealings with the Dutch

and the enhanced English position, and we also looked at how several potential Indian attacks

were stopped. The Confederation had many successes, but then we saw the situation fall apart during the impost controversy.

Massachusetts asserted its financial clout to gain favorable treatment over Kineskas,

and this did great damage to the Confederation. This is where we take things up.

I am, as a rule, uncomfortable with calling things inevitable. Some things certainly are, but as a rule, if anyone describes something as

inevitable, I take it as a red flag. Therefore, I'm not going to call the issues which the

United Colonies of New England faced inevitable, but they certainly have an unsurprising feel about them.

International treaties are difficult. Yes, I know that these colonies were technically English,

but they should be treated as different nations in the 17th century, using the term nation

to avoid saying state. Anyway, international treaties are difficult, and international organisations,

particularly so. Many ones which exist today took many

different forms to get where they are now. Therefore, it's unsurprising, they did it take the

Americans a few attempts to form what eventually became the federal government. It would have been a truly remarkable feat had they

got it right on the first go. It isn't that surprising that the Confederation faced major problems.

The key issue was Massachusetts. Massachusetts had three-fifths of the population of New England, with the other 40% spread between Plymouth, Rhode Island, Knesskitt, and New Haven.

It was not inevitable that things would fall apart, but it was not surprising that if there was something Massachusetts really wanted, such as a favourable outcome

...