~E Pluribus Unum: The Formation of the American Republic, 1776-1790~ is an astute and intriguing look at the formative years of the American Republic. The United States was taking shape from the days of the Confederation to the 1787 Constitutional Convention and many pivotal debates emerged as to the nature of the burgeoning federal republic. Particular emphasis is placed also on the Washington Administration and . McDonald offers an informative and intriguing scholarship, which is a solid contribution to constitutional history and early American history.