Reddit reviews A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic

That was a concession made by the northern states to get the southern states to ratify the Constitution. It was NOT in the original draft, and the southern states refused to sign until it was. It was a compromise.

I suggest reading "A leap in the dark, " which is a great book about the very beginnings of the US.

http://www.amazon.com/Leap-Dark-Struggle-American-Republic/dp/0195176006

I recently took a program at my college about this period, 1750-1800, and the main text we read was John Ferling's "A Leap in the Dark". It was presented in a fairly narrative format and was generally entertaining throughout, but peters off towards the end. I felt it was worth reading. (I am not a scholar of the period)

Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution is phenomenal, as is A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic.

1776 is a great book, and you should definitely read it, but it only covers the year 1776 (and just leading up to it).

If you can only get one book, go with Patriots (It starts in the 1750s, so it's certainly in-depth).

I don't know how historical writings tend to go in your country but here in the US the tendency is toward hero worship. So when reading you should keep in mind that authors tend to leave out parts that don't flatter the Founders.

The HBO miniseries the poster above recommended is really good as is the book it is based on by David McCullough. But in reading or watching this material you won't learn about how John Adams' reckless and parochial "militia diplomacy" nearly ruined the important US-French alliance. You also won't learn that Abigail Adams was a terrible mother. Her overbearing nature ruined the lives of those children and grandchildren she was in charge of raising and only those separated from her for long periods of their formative years (John Quincy Adams and Charles Francis Adams) were able to leave the mark on history that their privileged social position as part of America's original First Family made possible. (George Washington was apparently sterile. He left no direct descendants.)

This is why alternatives to these polite histories are important. The Howard Zinn book that was recommended is controversial (as you can see right in this thread) and contains many inaccuracies and distortions but serves as a convenient counterbalance to standard histories.