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Virginia Declaration of Rights
The Virginia Declaration of Rights is a document drafted unanimously by the Fifth Virginia Convention at Williamsburg, Virginia in 1776 to proclaim the inherent rights of men, including the right to reform or abolish "inadequate" government. It also influenced many other written documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the French Revolution's Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Declaration_of_Rights) -
Bill for Establishing Religous Freedom
Written by Thomas Jefferson in 1777 It promoted religious freedom for the state of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison promoted the bill for years before it was finally passed by the Virginia legislature. At the time, the Anglican Church was officially recognized as the state religion. -
ratification of the Articles of confederation
The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government. the need for a stronger federal government eventually became apparent and would eventually cause the constitutinal convention.(http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/articles.html) -
Treaty Of Paris
the treaty of paris established independence of the American colonies from Britain. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens from the continental congress went to negotiate a treaty. However Laurens was captured by the british and helduntil the end of the war, and Jefferson did not leave the country in time, thus left Adams, Franklin, and Jay to negotiate.(http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/treaty-of-paris) -
Land Ordinance of 1785
set up a standardized system where settlers could purchase title to farmland in the undeveloped west. this provided revenue for the government, due to their lack of ability to tax. the ordinance eventually covered over three-fourths of the area of the continental United States -
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Shay's Rebellion
A series of protests by American farmers against state and local enforcement of tax collections and judgments for debt. it threatened the stability of the articles of confederation, and brought up many arguments for the constitutional convention.(http://www.history.com/topics/shays-rebellion) -
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Constitutional Convention
the Convention was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, however the intention from the outset of many of its proponents, among them James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. mainly it was to create a new government rather than fix the existing one. The delegates elected George Washington to preside over the Convention. The result of the Convention was the creation of the United States Constitution -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The ordinance created the Northwest Territory, the first organized territory of the United States. this was a response to multiple pressures like the westward expansion of American settlers, tense diplomatic relations with Great Britain and Spain, violent confrontations with Indians, the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and the empty treasury of the American government. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Ordinance) -
Ratification of the Constitution
Transmitted to the Articles Congress then sitting in New York City, the Constitution was forwarded to the states by Congress recommending the ratification process outlined in the Constitution. Each state legislature was to call elections for a Federal Convention to ratify the Constitution. seen through the first three words "we the people", affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. (en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution) -
George Washington inauguration
The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of George Washington as President. Washington became the first President of the United States following the ratification of the Constitution. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_George_Washington) -
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French Revolution
The French Revolution was a period of far-reaching social and political upheaval in France. The Revolution overthrew the monarchy, established a republic, which was much inspired by the American Revolution. However they experienced violent periods of political turmoil, and finally culminated in a dictatorship under Napoleon that rapidly brought many of its principles to Western Europe and beyond. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_in_the_American_Revolutionary_War) -
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the Whiskey Rebellion
a tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791, during the presidency of George Washington. The so-called "whiskey tax" was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government. It became law in 1791, and was intended to generate revenue to help reduce the national debt.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_Rebellion) -
Jay's Treaty
Relations with Britain worsened. issues included seizure from American ships of cargoes unrelated to war, impressment of American seamen and continuing British occupation of western posts within U.S. borders. Hamilton with the agreement and Jefferson opposing it. the result was not much American gain, however America kept peace between them and Britain, because America could not afford a war. (http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h455.html) -
Treaty of Greenville
it followed negotiations after the Native American loss at the Battle of Fallen Timbers a year earlier. It ended the Northwest Indian War in the Ohio Country and limited strategic parcels of land to the north and west. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Greeneville) -
Pinckney Treaty
Established intentions of friendship between the United States and Spain. It also defined the boundaries of the United States with the Spanish colonies and guaranteed the United States navigation rights on the Mississippi River. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinckney's_Treaty) -
George Washington's Farewell adress
a letter written by George Washington In the late of his second term addressing the American people. It is a classic statement of republicanism, warning Americans of the political dangers they can and must avoid if they are to remain true to their values. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington's_Farewell_Address) -
Presidential Election of 1796
the first contested American presidential election and the only one in which a president and vice president were elected from opposing tickets. The candidates were Federalist John Adams defeated Republican Thomas Jefferson.(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1796) -
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X,Y,Z affair
early in the administration of John Adams, involving a confrontation between the United States and Republican France that led to an undeclared war called the Quasi-War. The name derives from the substitution of the letters X, Y and Z for the names of French diplomats Hottinguer, Bellamy, and Hauteval in documents released by the Adams administration. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XYZ_Affair) -
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Quasi War
After the toppling of the French crown during the French Revolutionary Wars, the United States refused to continue repaying its debt to France on the grounds that it had been owed to a previous regime(new nation, new finance). French outrage led to a series of attacks on American shipping, ultimately leading to retaliation from the Americans and the end of hostilities with the signing of the Convention of 1800 shortly thereafter.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasi-War) -
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Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Kentucky and Virginia legislatures took the position that the federal Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. The resolutions argued that the states had the right and the duty to declare unconstitutional acts of Congress that were not authorized by the Constitution.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_and_Virginia_Resolutions) -
Alien and Sedition Acts
four bills that were the result of the French Revolution and during an undeclared naval war with France, later known as the Quasi-War. They made it harder for an immigrant to become a citizen (Naturalization Act), allowed the president to imprison and deport non-citizens who were deemed dangerous (Alien Friends Act) or who were from a hostile nation (Alien Enemies Act), and criminalized making false statements that were critical of the federal government (Sedition Act). -
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Election of 1800
VP Thomas Jefferson defeated President John Adams. The election was a realigning election that ushered in a generation of Democratic-Republican Party rule and the eventual demise of the Federalist Party in the First Party System. it was between the pro-French and pro-decentralization Democratic-Republicans under Jefferson and Aaron Burr and the incumbent Adams and Charles Pinckney's pro-British and pro-centralization Federalists.(en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1800)
