"The creation of the United States of America is the central event of the last 400 years", says historian Walter McDougal. It's the story of 13 ragtag colonies, all with different religions, all with different ideals, all coming together with a common vision... to unite and create a land free of the English crown and left alone to worship, to do business and even to hustle they way they saw fit. Today on the Exchange, independence, the art of the hustle, and the story of the creation of America. Laura's guest is Walter McDougal, professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania and author of "Freedom Just Around the Corner: A New American History 1585-1828" it's the first of a trilogy of books about the history of the United States of America.
*This show originally aired on 7/5/04*
