In this episode of Creating America, we continue our exploration of the Federalist Papers with Federalist No. 15 and No. 21, written by Alexander Hamilton. These powerful essays explain why America’s first system of government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak to survive—and why a stronger federal government was necessary.

Hamilton lays out the dangers facing the young nation: lack of enforcement power, economic instability, interstate conflict, and the inability to govern effectively. He argues that a government without the power to enforce laws is no government at all.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why the Articles of Confederation failed
• The core weaknesses of early American government
• Hamilton’s argument for federal power and national unity
• How these ideas shaped the U.S. Constitution

This episode continues the chronological journey through the founding documents that shaped the United States, bringing these texts to life through narration and historical context.

🎧 Perfect for students, history lovers, and anyone curious about how American government was built.

Host & Narrator: Will Sarris
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After exploring the divide between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, we dive into two foundational essays. In Federalist No. 1, Hamilton lays out the stakes of the constitutional debate, arguing that the future of the Union—and the possibility of self-government itself—hangs in the balance. Then, in Federalist No. 10, Madison examines one of the most enduring challenges of democracy: faction. He explains why divisions are inevitable in a free society and how a large republic can help control their dangers.

These writings not only shaped the ratification debate in 1787–1788 but continue to influence how the Constitution is understood today.

Join us as we hear these historic texts brought to life and consider what they reveal about the founding of the United States—and its future.

Host & Narrator: Will Sarris
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Best remembered for his fiery declaration, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”, Henry returned to the public stage to oppose ratification of the newly drafted United States Constitution. Speaking on June 7, 1788, he warned that the proposed frame of government endangered liberty, threatened the sovereignty of the states, and lacked explicit protections for individual rights.

At the time, the Constitution contained no Bill of Rights—a glaring omission for many Americans who had just fought a revolution against centralized power. In this speech, Henry challenges Federalist arguments and questions the necessity of consolidation. His fears of corruption, taxation without adequate safeguards, and the erosion of jury trials and press freedom echo through American history.

Whether you agree with him or not, Henry’s words reveal the deep anxieties that surrounded the birth of the American republic—and help explain why the first ten amendments were soon added. He was but one voice of many who show us that the history of our founding is complex.

For more context and an analysis of this speech, visit https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/analysis-patrick-henry-speech-ratification-constitution.

Creating America presents history without heavy editorializing—offering context where needed, but allowing listeners to engage directly with the words that shaped the United States.

It is our hope that by listening to these documents and speeches, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what America was, what it is, and what it hopes to be.

Host & Narrator: Will Sarris
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The core of the episode is a complete reading of the Constitution as originally ratified, beginning with the Preamble’s declaration, “We the People.” The text outlines the structure of a federal government divided into three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—and defines the powers and limitations of each. Article I details the composition, responsibilities, and authority of Congress, including lawmaking powers, taxation, regulation of commerce, and the impeachment process. Article II establishes the presidency, describing the election process, qualifications for office, executive powers, and duties. Article III creates the federal judiciary, defining the role of the Supreme Court and the scope of judicial authority. The episode also covers Articles IV through VII, which address the relationship between the states, the admission of new states, guarantees of a republican form of government, the amendment process, the supremacy of federal law, and the requirements for ratification. Together, these sections reveal how the Constitution sought to balance national authority with state sovereignty while protecting liberty and establishing a durable system of governance.

By presenting the Constitution in its entirety and in its original language, this episode allows listeners to engage directly with the document that continues to shape the structure, powers, and principles of the United States.

Creating America presents history without heavy editorializing—offering context where needed, but allowing listeners to engage directly with the words that shaped the United States.

It is our hope that by listening to these documents and speeches, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what America was, what it is, and what it hopes to be.

Host & Narrator: Will Sarris
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You’ll hear the 1773 petition of enslaved men in Massachusetts asking for their liberty and the right to return to Africa, the 1779 New Hampshire petition signed by Prince Whipple and other enslaved men asserting that freedom is a natural human right, and excerpts from the 1780 Pennsylvania Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery—the first legislative step toward ending slavery in the United States.

These documents reveal that the contradiction between liberty and slavery was not only recognized by later historians—it was being challenged in real time by those living under bondage.

By listening to these original texts as they were meant to be heard, we gain a deeper understanding of the debates, moral struggles, and voices that shaped the early American republic.

Creating America presents history without heavy editorializing—offering context where needed, but allowing listeners to engage directly with the words that shaped the United States.

It is our hope that by listening to these documents and speeches, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what America was, what it is, and what it hopes to be.

Host & Narrator: Will Sarris
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The episode provides brief historical context, including the tradition that George Washington found the pamphlet so inspiring that it was read aloud to Continental Army troops before the crossing of the Delaware River. The bulk of the episode is devoted to Paine’s uncompromising argument against British rule, his condemnation of loyalists, and his insistence that liberty, though costly, is worth every sacrifice.

Creating America emphasizes listening over interpretation, allowing the power of the original language to stand on its own. Through this reading, listeners gain a deeper appreciation of the fear, resolve, and moral conviction that defined the Revolutionary era.

Creating America presents history without heavy editorializing—offering context where needed, but allowing listeners to engage directly with the words that shaped the United States.

It is our hope that by listening to these documents and speeches, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what America was, what it is, and what it hopes to be.

Host & Narrator: Will Sarris
📩 Contact: CreatingAmericaPod@gmail.com
💬 Support the show: patreon.com/williamsarris
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After declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776, the Continental Congress faced an urgent question: What comes next? Were the former colonies independent states loosely allied together—or a single united nation? How would they fund the Revolutionary War, manage commerce, resolve disputes, and govern collectively?

Drafted by John Dickinson of Delaware and ratified in 1781, the Articles of Confederation created a “league of friendship” among the states, intentionally limiting the power of a central government. Each state retained its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, while Congress lacked the authority to tax, regulate commerce, or effectively enforce its decisions.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The full text of the Articles of Confederation, read aloud
• The fears of centralized power that shaped America’s first government
• Why the Articles ultimately proved too weak to govern a growing nation
• How economic crisis and interstate conflict led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787

Because many Americans in the 18th century were illiterate, these documents were often experienced orally in taverns, meeting halls, and public gatherings. As a professional voice actor, Will Sarris brings these foundational texts to life, preserving both their meaning and their intended impact.

Creating America presents history without heavy editorializing—offering context where needed, but allowing listeners to engage directly with the words that shaped the United States.

It is our hope that by listening to these documents and speeches, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what America was, what it is, and what it hopes to be.

Host & Narrator: Will Sarris
📩 Contact: CreatingAmericaPod@gmail.com
💬 Support the show: patreon.com/williamsarris
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Delivered in 1821, Adams’s address is both a sweeping interpretation of the causes, meaning, and legacy of the Declaration and a profound meditation on the origins of legitimate government. In this speech, Adams argues that the United States was the first nation founded on universal principles of natural rights, rather than conquest, inheritance, or divine monarchy—an idea that would later be called American exceptionalism.

Adams traces the intellectual roots of the Declaration to the Protestant Reformation, contending that the restoration of reason in religion made its application to politics inevitable. He connects the ideas of individual conscience, human equality, social compact, and popular sovereignty to the founding of the American republic, while also revealing how these beliefs shaped 19th-century American political culture.

This episode features:

• John Quincy Adams’s explanation of the moral foundation of the Declaration of Independence
• A critique of governments founded on conquest and hereditary power
• Reflections on natural rights, civil society, and popular sovereignty
• Insight into how Americans have interpreted the Declaration across generations

Presented as a dramatic narrated reading, this episode allows listeners to experience the speech as it was meant to be heard—spoken aloud, rich in rhetoric, and alive with ideas that continue to shape debates about what the United States is and what it ought to be.

🎧 Related episode: Hear the Declaration of Independence itself, read aloud, in the previous episode of Creating America.

About the Podcast
Creating America is an American history podcast dedicated to reading and preserving the documents and speeches that shaped the United States, from iconic texts to lesser-known works that influenced the nation’s development.

Host & Narrator: Will Sarris
📩 Contact: CreatingAmericaPod@gmail.com
💬 Support the show: patreon.com/williamsarris
🌐 More about Will: williamsarris.net

We hear Part IV: “Of the Present Ability of America; with Some Miscellaneous Reflections,” along with the Appendix to Common Sense, in which Paine delivers a forceful, wide-ranging argument for American independence. From military readiness and naval power to economics, governance, religion, representation, and national character, Paine lays out why the moment for independence is not coming—it is already here.

Written to be heard rather than read, Common Sense was originally consumed aloud by a largely illiterate population. In keeping with that tradition, this podcast presents Paine’s words as a living performance, allowing modern listeners to experience the urgency, logic, and passion that helped ignite the American Revolution.

This episode follows the previous readings of:

• “Of the Present Ability of America: with Some Miscellaneous Reflections"
• "Appendix to Common Sense"

Whether inspirational, provocative, or unsettling, these founding-era texts reveal not only what America was—but what it aspired to become.

About the Podcast
Creating America is a narrated American history podcast dedicated to reading and preserving the documents and speeches that shaped the United States, from famous texts to nearly forgotten works.

Host: Will Sarris
📩 Contact: CreatingAmericaPod@gmail.com
💬 Support the show: patreon.com/williamsarris
🌐 More about Will: williamsarris.net
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In this installment, we explore Section 3: “Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs,” in which Paine dismantles the case for reconciliation with Great Britain and makes a passionate, reasoned appeal for independence. Written in 1776 and read aloud here as it was originally intended, Paine’s words confront monarchy, inherited power, and political fear—urging Americans to think beyond the present moment and consider the fate of future generations.

With minimal commentary and careful historical context, Creating America allows these foundational texts to speak for themselves. Through professional narration and performance, the podcast brings clarity, urgency, and emotional weight to the ideas that helped ignite the American Revolution.

Whether you are a student of history, a lifelong learner, or hearing these words in full for the first time, this episode offers a deeper understanding of what America was, what it became, and what it aspired to be.

🎙️ Next episode: We conclude Common Sense with Sections 4 and 5.
Host: Will Sarris
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Written in January 1776, Common Sense made the bold, radical case for full independence from Great Britain at a time when many American colonists still hoped for reconciliation with the Crown. Paine’s plain language and powerful arguments against monarchy, hereditary succession, and the English constitution helped transform public opinion and paved the way for the Declaration of Independence.

In Part 1, we explore Paine’s opening sections on:

• The origin and purpose of government
• The difference between society and government
• Why monarchy is inherently flawed
• The dangers of hereditary rule
• Early arguments for republican government and liberty

Because Common Sense was meant to be heard rather than read, this podcast presents the text as it would have been experienced in taverns, meeting halls, and public gatherings throughout colonial America—brought to life through professional voice performance.

This episode includes historical context but allows the primary source to speak for itself, inviting listeners to engage directly with the ideas that shaped the founding of the United States.

🎧 Next episode: We continue with the next section of Common Sense, “The Present State of American Affairs.”

About the Podcast
Creating America is a narrated American history podcast dedicated to reading and preserving the documents and speeches that shaped the United States, from famous texts to nearly forgotten works.

Host: Will Sarris
📩 Contact: CreatingAmericaPod@gmail.com
💬 Support the show: patreon.com/williamsarris
🌐 More about Will: williamsarris.net

I’m Will Sarris. I’m an actor and media professional and I’ve always loved the study of history. I was thinking about the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States recently, and I realized that often I know ABOUT various speeches and documents that shaped the history of the US, but I’ve often never actually read them. And I thought that likely many of you were in the same place.

In addition, many of these texts were meant to be heard more than read (especially in the case of speeches), since many people were illiterate. And I’m a voice actor, so I hope I can not only bring you the text of the document or speech, but make it come alive.

So what I want to do is simply read to you these speeches and documents. Many of them are well known, others only known by name, and others almost entirely forgotten in the public consciousness. Some are inspirational, others will probably shock you.

A few quick things before we get going. I’m interested in and have studied history over my lifetime, but I am not a historian. So while I will provide some context for each speech or document, I will offer little commentary other than to point you to respected historians who can give some insight every once in a while.

Many of these documents and speeches were written by white men, but I want to try to bring in other diverse voices as we go. The country has always benefited from a diversity of opinions, and that should be reflected here.

So, I’ve tried to somewhat organize this chronologically, however I’m sure I will miss things that many of you think are relevant or that I simply don’t know exist. That’s ok! Contact me and I’ll try to bring in those texts as well as we go . The email address is CreatingAmericaPod@gmail.com.

It is my hope that as you listen to these documents and speeches you will gain an appreciation of what our country was, what it is, and what it hopes to be.

One of the most well known phrases to come from the pre-revolutionary war period of American history is “Give me Liberty or Give me Death!” and I bet most of you know that it was uttered by Patrick Henry. 
What you may not know is exactly WHO Patrick Henry was and WHY he said that phrase, or indeed what the context was in which he said it.

Also...

In the Continental Congress, as the weeks turned into months and the situation in Boston and indeed the rest of the colonies grew more untenable, the delegates began to warm to the idea of independence, an idea that Patrick Henry, Samuel and John Adams of Massachusetts and Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, and a few others, had already realized was the inevitable path forward by this point.

If you'd like to support this podcast, head to Patreon.com/williamsarris

You can find us on social media by searching Creating America Podcast.
You can find Will by searching William Sarris.

#GiveMeLiberty
#PatrickHenry
#DeclarationOfIndependence
#AmericanHistory
#FoundingFathers

I’m Will Sarris. I’m an actor and media professional and I’ve always loved the study of history. I was thinking about the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States recently, and I realized that often I know ABOUT various speeches and documents that shaped the history of the US, but I’ve often never actually read them. And I thought that likely many of you were in the same place.

In addition, many of these texts were meant to be heard more than read (especially in the case of speeches), since many people were illiterate. And I’m a voice actor, so I hope I can not only bring you the text of the document or speech, but make it come alive.

So what I want to do is simply read to you these speeches and documents. Many of them are well known, others only known by name, and others almost entirely forgotten in the public consciousness. Some are inspirational, others will probably shock you.

A few quick things before we get going. I’m interested in and have studied history over my lifetime, but I am not a historian. So while I will provide some context for each speech or document, I will offer little commentary other than to point you to respected historians who can give some insight every once in a while.

Many of these documents and speeches were written by white men, but I want to try to bring in other diverse voices as we go. The country has always benefited from a diversity of opinions, and that should be reflected here.

So, I’ve tried to somewhat organize this chronologically, however I’m sure I will miss things that many of you think are relevant or that I simply don’t know exist. That’s ok! Contact me and I’ll try to bring in those texts as well as we go . The email address is CreatingAmericaPod@gmail.com.

It is my hope that as you listen to these documents and speeches you will gain an appreciation of what our country was, what it is, and what it hopes to be.

In this first episode I want to start in Massachusetts with two texts. The first is sort of a founding document, and the second is a speech. Both are from the colonial era.

First is the Mayflower Compact. The second is a speech by John Hancock on the anniversary of the Boston Massacre.

If you'd like to support his podcast, please head to Patreon.com/williamsarris

You can find us on social media! Search Creating America Podcast.
You can find Will by searching William Sarris.

#MayflowerCompact
#AmericanHistory
#BostonMassacre
#FoundingFathers
#HistoryPodcast