Prof. Eliga Gould, 'Union and Disunion: The Turbulent History of the United States' Founding Treaty'

About this episode

Professor Eliga H. Gould discusses the significance of the Treaty of Paris in understanding the founding of the United States.

When we think about the founding documents of the United States, two likely come to mind: the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. But perhaps not the third — the Treaty of Paris (1783), the agreement that ended the Revolutionary War and formally recognized American independence. Our guest this week, Professor Eliga H. Gould, argues that this largely forgotten founding document is essential for understanding how the United States actually came into being. Far from a clean moment of national birth, the treaty emerged from the aftermath of a brutal civil war, triggering mass displacement, contested borders, and fragile diplomatic compromises within and beyond British North America. Eliga H. Gould is the (2025-26) Harold Vyvyan Harmsworth Professor of American History at University of Oxford and (for 30+ years) the Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire. Gould’s new book project, Peace and Independence: The Turbulent History of the United States’ Founding Treaty , examines the social, economic, and constitutional consequences of the 1783 Paris Treaty. The three themes guiding this research project are the making, unmaking, and remaking of the American…

People in this episode

Guest: Eliga H. Gould

Topics covered

• founding documents
• Treaty of Paris
• American independence
• civil war aftermath
• diplomatic compromises
• American Union

Keywords

• Treaty of Paris
• American history
• founding treaty
• Eliga H. Gould
• independence
• diplomacy
• civil war
• American Union

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Oxford, University of New Hampshire

Books & works: Peace and Independence: The Turbulent History of the United States’ Founding Treaty

Places: British North America

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