In the wake of revolution, Americans faced a new question: how do you build a republic strong enough to last, yet safe from tyranny? This episode traces the journey from the Articles of Confederation to Philadelphia’s closed-door debates—Shays’ Rebellion, rival plans, and the Great Compromise that balanced liberty with order. In this episode, we'll explore how republican ideals collided with fears of “the people,” how Hamilton and Madison defended a bold new federal system, and why the Constitution’s design—federalism, checks, and balances—still defines our political experiment today.