Kyle and Eric dive into some of the most intriguing—and often overlooked—moments of early American history. They explore the State of Franklin, a rogue attempt at statehood that lasted four tumultuous years, the Yazoo land scandal that redefined political corruption, and the Jay Treaty, a deeply unpopular but pivotal step in repairing U.S.-British relations after the Revolutionary War.

Along the way, they unravel the complexities of economic recovery, the cultural dynamics of post-Revolution diplomacy, and the messy politics of a fledgling nation finding its footing. From shady land deals to tense trade negotiations, this episode is packed with scandal, strategy, and the seeds of modern governance.

• Learn why the State of Franklin almost—but didn’t—make it onto your map.

• Dive into the Yazoo land scandal and its spicy corruption drama.

• Get the scoop on the Jay Treaty: hated, but critical for America’s trade and diplomacy.

• Discover how early politics shaped the tangled web of economics and governance.

• Realize that cronyism isn’t just a 21st-century problem—it’s been around since day one.

Grab your powdered wig and get ready to geek out. It’s history, but with more sass and way fewer boring textbooks.

Credits: "Fife and Drum" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠

State of Franklin picture

Bennett1203, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jay’s Treaty:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PreliminaryTreatyOfParisPainting.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Jay%27s-treaty.jpg See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-jcc-ushistory1os/chapter/competing-visions-federalists-and-democratic-republicans/

Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

https://boudewijnhuijgens.getarchive.net/amp/media/united-states-senate-to-john-jay-june-1795-instructions-to-john-jay-from-the

What do counterfeiting scandals, the Coinage Act, and George Washington’s tricky dance with the French Revolution have in common? They’re all shaping up to be the juiciest parts of this episode! Kyle and Eric dig into the early chaos of America’s currency crisis—when counterfeiters were thriving and the Coinage Act swooped in to save the day. But that’s just the beginning.

As the French Revolution exploded across the Atlantic, Washington was stuck between a guillotine and a hard place. Should America back its French allies or stay out of the fray? His decision not to support the French revolutionists redefined America’s foreign policy forever and solidified the U.S.-British relationship—though not without drama.

• How a counterfeiting epidemic led to the creation of the Coinage Act.

• Why Washington, once an aspiring British general, became the ultimate revolutionary.

• The surprising connection between the French and American Revolutions.

• Washington’s choice to dodge international conflicts and its long-term impact.

• The evolving U.S.-British dynamic post-presidency.

• How Washington’s decisions laid the groundwork for a rule-based world order.

With plenty of insights and eye-opening history, Kyle and Eric prove there’s more to Washington than just wooden teeth and cherry trees. Hit play and let’s make history fun again!

Fife and Drum music:

"Fife and Drum" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What do you get when you mix a land-surveying farm kid, a reluctant revolutionary, and a no-nonsense general with a knack for leading a country itching to implode? George Washington, of course! In this episode of The Buck Starts Here, Kyle and Eric unravel the myth and the man behind the powdered wig. From his scrappy beginnings on a small farm to becoming the glue that held a fledgling nation together, Washington’s story is packed with grit, genius, and just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked.

But Washington’s story isn’t all battles and glory. The hosts examine his economic struggles as a farmer, his decision to leave the military for civilian life, and the mounting discontent with Britain that sowed the seeds of revolution. They also reveal the real challenges he faced as a leader with no party backing, tasked with holding together a young nation on the brink of collapse.

Kyle and Eric mix history with sharp insights and a dash of irreverence to unpack how Washington’s leadership style—marked by humility and a focus on service—shaped the presidency and set traditions still in place today. And they won’t stop there; this episode sets the stage for an even deeper dive into Washington’s presidency next week.

Music: "Fife and Drum" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Most history podcasts tell you what the presidents did—The Buck Starts Here digs into why they did it (and what they totally screwed up along the way). We’re diving into the wild, messy, and sometimes downright ridiculous decisions that shaped the nation, mixing in a little economics (a.k.a. cliometrics) to figure out why things happened the way they did. Expect big personalities, bigger blunders, and plenty of laughs as we break down every president from Washington to the year 2000.

History is weird. We’re here to talk about it.

Music: "Fife and Drum" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/