The film A More Perfect Union: America Becomes A Nation, is a reenactment of the .
Constitution Congress and its members struggle to form a new government. The film shows .
America in 1787 as a country in crisis. It portrays America as a newly independent nation .
lacking stability. A central issue of the film deals with the question of sovereignty and how the .
members of the congress struggle with the idea of a strong central government as opposed to .
state sovereignty. .
James Madison the prominent character of the film is portrayed as a man in distress over .
the condition of America. America has gained its independence from Great Britain and .
struggling not just with its political identity in the world but also within its own boarders. .
Madison has realized the current governmental system under the Articles of Confederation were .
stifling America's potential of becoming a great nation. The articles called for a weak central .
government. Each former colony now known as states, were the power within their own .
boarders and were independent of one another. This was in response from Americans who after .
years of serving the King of England, feared and distrusted any tyranny in government. .
From the beginning of the film, there seems to be an underlying sense of instability. An .
exceptional amount of attention is paid to Madison's efforts to convincing George Washington to .
attend the convention in Philadelphia. As Madison writes letters to Washington, he also keeps a .
personal journal in which the viewer becomes privy to Madison's thoughts. The viewer comes .
to understand the situation facing the nation in 1786 and 1787. America is turmoil; it owes .
money to countries who supported it during the Revolution but can't repay them. Trade wars .
between states is destabilizing the nation's economy, along with the fact fair trade with nations .
such as England are nonexistent. Also some Americans had a fear of standing armies within the .