In the years following the Revolutionary War, the young American nation was in a state of chaos. Citizens pleaded with government leaders to reorganize local infrastructures and heighten regulations, but economic turmoil, Native American warfare, and political unrest persisted. By 1784, one group of North Carolina frontiersmen could no longer stand the unresponsiveness of state leaders to their growing demands. This ambitious coalition of Tennessee Valley citizens declared their region independent from North Carolina, forming the state of Franklin.

The Franklin independence movement emerged from the shared desires of a powerful group of landed elite, yeoman farmers, and country merchants. Over the course of four years they managed to develop a functioning state government, court system, and backcountry bureaucracy.

Confronted by Native American resistance and the opposition of the North Carolina government, the state of Franklin incited a firestorm of partisan and Indian violence. Despite a brief diplomatic flirtation with the nation of Spain during the state's final days, the state was never able to recover from the warfare, and Franklin collapsed in 1788.

The book is published by The University Press of Kentucky. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

"Barksdale's careful deconstruction of both the myths and realities of the 'lost' state of Franklin should make this book a standard reference..." (American Historical Review)

"The book will be valuable for regional specialists and students interested in frontier politics..." (West Virginia History)

"An important study of community growth on the trans-Appalachian frontier..." (Journal of Southern History)