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French Indian War
The French-Indian war was a conflict between the French and British Empires. Kicked off by decades of territorial disputes, the French-Indian war would end with the with the French losing all of their territory in mainland North America to the British and Spanish. -
Proclamation Line of 1763
In an attempt to prevent the rekindling of hostilities between the colonies and Native Americans the British would establish a line along the Appellation mountains that the colonists weren't allowed to settle past. -
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Pontaic's Rebellion
Angry at colonists increasing encroachment into Native American lands to the west and refusal to give gifts, chief Pontiac would lead a rebellion and attack settlements and forts from New York to Virginia. The British would refuse to use colonial militias in the conflict and instead would opt for their own troops instead to put down the rebellion. -
Stamp Act
The stamp act, proposed by Prime Minister Lord Grenville modeling off of previous taxes in use in England, was issued to raise funds for troops stationed in the colonies. The Stamp act required that most printed papers such as legal documents, newspapers, pamphlets, and advertisements, be stamped with revenue stamps which would have to be purchased from the government. -
Declaratory Acts
An act passed along with the repealing of the Stamp Act of 1765 that asserted that parliament had the right to tax and make laws in the colonies "in all cases whatsoever". This policy would be enacted as a way to save face after conceding the colonial demands. -
Tea Act
A British policy that enabled the British East India Company a monopoly on selling tea in the colonies, complicating the colonists’ ability to buy cheaper tea elsewhere. -
Boston Tea Party
A response to the Tea Act carried out by the Sons of Liberty who dressed as Native Americans and poured British tea into the Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
The first major assembly between all of the Thirteen Colonies with the exception of Georgia taking place in Philadelphia, called in response to the Intolerable Acts. -
Second Continental Congress
The second major meeting of delegates across the thirteen colonies. It was called in response to the outbreak of violence in Massachusetts and took place in Philidelphia. -
Declaration of Independence
A statement issued by the continental congress listing grievances against the British government and King George III and declaring the Thirteen Colonies independent from British rule. -
Articles of Confederation Ratification
The Continental Congress would ratify the Articles of Confederation which served as an early and deeply flawed constitution for the new nation. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty ending the revolutionary war, where the British would recognize the United States as an independent nation and would grant territorial concessions to the new nation. -
Northwestern Ordinance of 1787
Helped to manage the territory in between the Great Lakes and Ohio river by setting up rules for the creation of new states. The Ordinance would grant limited self-government to those in the territory and prohibited slavery there. -
Constitutional Convention
Upon noticing the cracks in the Articles of Confederation the Constitutional Convention was called in order to rewrite the document in order to create a stronger government. -
Ratification of the United States Constitution
After years of discussion between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, and many compromises like the inclusion of the bill of rights, the Constitution would finally be ratified. This would establish a stronger federal government that had the ability to raise armies and tax citizens. -
Constitution
A document framing the government of the United States, the constitution was meant to address the many flaws of the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution established a bicameral legislature and gave the federal government the ability to tax the states. The Constitution would but into place the three branches, the legislative, the judiciary, and the executive that we have today and established a president as the head of the nation. -
Proclamation of Neutrality
In response to the war between revolutionary France and Great Britian, many would begin to ask whether or not to intervene on the side of their ally, the French. After much debate President Washington called for the Proclamation of Neutrality to be drafted, as he believed that the nation was much too young and fragile to fight in another war. -
Whiskey Rebellion
To make up for lost revenue caused by low tariffs Hamilton would persuaded congress that taxes be placed on the sale of Whiskey. In western Pennsylvania a group of farmers would refuse to pay the tax on Whiskey as they could not afford to pay it. Instead of paying the tax they attacked revenue collectors to defend what they deemed as their liberties. -
Jay's Treaty
In response to British search and seizure of American ships and impressing of sailors into the British Navy, Chief Justice John Jay was sent out to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict. After years of negotiations Jay would bring back a treaty where Britian would promise to leave posts on the US western frontier leaving out the main issue of seizures of American merchant ships. -
Pinckney's Treaty
A treaty negotiated by Thomas Pinckney that would grant the United States access to the lower Mississippi River and New Orleans for trade. The Unites States was also granted the right of deposit which allowed it to transfer cargoes in New Orleans without having to pay duties. On top of this Spain would agree that the northern boundary of Florida would be at the 31st parallel instead of north a previously claimed. -
Washingtons Farewell Address
In his address Washington would announce his intention to retire to private life. With this announcement who would write words of warning to the country that he had led. He advised Americans not to get involved in European affairs, not to make "permanent alliances" while dealing with foreign affairs, not form political parties, and not fall into sectionalism. -
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XYZ Affair
Tensions between the United States and France would rise as French warships and privateers began seizing American ships. Attempting to negotiate the issues led to unnamed diplomats known as XYZ who demanded bribes in return for diplomatic talks. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien Act gave the president the power to deport aliens considered dangerous and detain aliens of enemy nations to be detained at times of war. The Sedition Act made it illegal for news-paper editors to criticize the president and congress and people who violated the law would face imprisonment or fines. -
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
In response the Alien, Sedition, and Naturalization acts, Kentucky would pass a law written by Thomas Jefferson and Virginia would pass a law written by James Madison which stated that the states had the right to nullify laws that went against the compact that they had signed when forming the national government. -
Election of 1800
The Federalists would begin to lose power due to their unpopular Alien and Sedition Acts and new taxes imposed to pay for preparations for war against France. With the election of 1800 much of the Federalist dominated congress was swept away allowing for the Democratic-Republicans to take control. In the presidential election the race fell between Araon Burr and Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton, believing Burr to be untrustworthy advocated for the election of Jefferson who would win the election.