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Virginia Declaration of Rights
The Declaration of Rights was written for Virginia by George Mason and included a list of the inalienable rights of men such as right to life liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. This document was an important precedent for future documents like the Bill of Rightshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Declaration_of_Rights -
Ratification of The Articles of Confederation
In March 1781, the Articles of Confederation were ratified by the members of the Continental Congress which established a loose union of states and included a central government whose power was greatly limited. This was done in response to the abusive, tyrannical monarchy of Great Britain which encouraged the newly formed United States to have a government which could not act as Great Britain had. http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/constitution-day/ratification.html -
Treaty of Paris(1783)
The treaty of Paris was a peace treaty signed in 1783 that marked the end of the American War for Independence against Great Britain conducted by Adams, Franklin, and Jay. This treaty was important because it forced England to recognize American Independence.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_(1783) -
Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 was adopted by the United States Congress under the Articles of Confederation which established a standardized system for effectively settling the West that consisted of 1 square mile plots divided into 36 sections. This established a precedent in the United States that encouraged the seizure of native american land in order to benefit the US.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Ordinance_of_1785 -
Bill For Establishing Religious Freedom
The Bill For Establishing Religious Freedom was written by Thomas Jefferson for the state of Virginia which called for religious freedom in the state and set precedent for national separation of Church and State. https://tavaana.org/en/content/religious-freedom-bill-virginia -
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Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was an uprising in Western Massachusetts in which farmers took up arms against the high taxes imposed on them. This uprising was ultimately defeated by state militias, but showed the weakness of the central government, and the need for reform. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shays%27_Rebellion -
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Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was an event set in place by the annapolis Convention that was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation. At this convention were prominent figures like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington. This event was very significant because it included the formation of the Constitution which established a new government that contained a stronger central government than the Articles.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Convention -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was created by Congress under the Articles of Confederation that added the area Northeast of the Mississippi River to the Untied States as a result of the pressures of westward expansion. This is important because it was one of the most important acts of the AOC and greatly expanded the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Ordinance -
Ratification of the Constitution
The Ratification of the Constitution in 1787 resulted in a representative republic being established over the United States with a stronger central government than had been in place under the Articles, which had proved to be ineffective. The ratification was achieved by the promise of a Bill of Rights which established the rights of individuals within the nation. http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/constitution-day/ratification.html -
George Washington Inauguration
George Washington, the first president of the United States under the Constitution, was inaugurated after being unanimously voted in. Under his administration, precedent was set that would influence American politics, including a 2 term limit and the establishment of Judicial Review.https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/gw-inauguration/ -
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French Revolution
The French Revolution had lasting, dividing effects on the political climate of the United States in the 1790's between the Jeffersonian Democratic- Republicans who supported the revolution as furthering the work of the American Revolution and the Federalists, specifically Washington, who proclaimed Neutrality in European affairs.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution#United_States -
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Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion occurred in Western Pennsylvania during due to the high tax imposed on the distillation of Whiskey, which was designed to increase revenue in the US. The rebellion began with farmers attacking tax collectors and ended when Washington sent 15,000 militiamen as a show of force to stop the uprising, which succeeded. This was significant because it was a direct contrast to the weakness of the Articles of Confederation, showing the power of the new Centralized government. (Wiki) -
Jay Treaty
Jay's Treaty resulted in the removal of British troops from the US while giving Britain the most favored nation of the US in trade. This treaty prevented war with Great Britain, but also angered Jeffersonians, as this favored the British over the French, who Jefferson supported in their revolution, further dividing American politics and increasing criticism of Washington. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Treaty -
Pinckney's Treaty
Pinckney's Treaty of 1795 established the boundaries between colonial Spain and The United States along the Mississippi River and the 31st parallel, while opening the River and New Orleans to trade from the US. This was important as it added a sizeable portion of land to the US, furthering its expansion.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinckney%27s_Treaty -
Treaty of Greenville
The Treaty of Greenville occurred after Native defeat against the US in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, which forced the natives to give over a portion of land in Ohio to the US and established a boundary. This event marked a trend in the increasing power of the United States government over the native population as well as the natives decreasing ability to stop US expansion.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Greenville -
Washington Farewell
Washington's farewell address signaled his retirement from politics and the presidency and also served as a word of warning to remain neutral in foreign affairs and avoid political parties. It also established the precedent of 2 terms of office for the president.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington%27s_Farewell_Address -
Election of 1796
The election of 1796 was the first election in which George Washington was not running which resulted in conflict between the Federalists and the Dem-Reps in which the Federalist Candidate, John Adams, was elected. This marked the true beginning of the party system.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1796 -
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XYZ Affair
The XYZ affair occurred when the US under John Adams sent a delegation to France in order to stop the seizure of US merchants, only for a bribe to be demanded by France in order to negotiate. This caused unrest within the States with growing anti-French sentiment, causing the Democratic-Republicans to change their stance on the French, as well as a Quasi-War between the two nations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XYZ_Affair -
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Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by the Federalist Congress in 1798 that included deportation of suspicious immigrants and condemning slander against the Government. The Dem-Reps saw this as a violation of free speech under the 1st amendment, and caused John Adams to decrease in popularity allowing Jefferson to win the 1800 election. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_and_Sedition_Acts -
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Quasi-War
The Quasi War was an undeclared Naval War from 1798 to 1800 between the US and France due to the rising tensions between the two nations as a result of the XYZ affair and the refusal of the US to pay war debts to the new Republic as their treaty had been with the French monarchy. Throughout this conflict, open warfare never broke out, due to John Adams having sent a second delegation to France, which is important because it kept America neutral and safe.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasi-War -
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Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolution were drafted by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson respectively, which described the union as a compact of states and thereby declared the rights of the states to nullify an unconstitutional law, in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts. These Resolutions were very important in the justification of the secession of the Southern States in the 1860s.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_and_Virginia_Resolutions -
Election of 1800
Also known as the Revolution of 1800, the election of 1800 in which Jefferson and Burr (Democratic-Republicans) defeated Adams (Federalist) in the electoral college leading to the beginning of a Republican era and ultimately the demise of the Federalist party.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1800
