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Virginia Declaration of Rights
The Virginia Declaration of Rights is a document drafted in 1776 to proclaim the inherent rights of men, including the right to reform or abolish "inadequate" government. -
Virginia Declaration of Rights
A document drafted in 1776 written by George Mason which proclaimed the rights of men. The Virginia's Declaration of Rights inspired Thomas Jefferson's opening of the Declaration of Independence. -
Ratification of Articles of Confederation
On July 12, 1776, the first draft of the Articles of Confederation was shown to the Continental Congress. and on November 15 of the following year, Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation. From then on, states delegates slowly began to sign the ratification of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of confederation was not officially ratified by all thirteen colonies until March 1, 1781. link text -
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The Treaty of Paris was a treaty negotiated between Great Britain and the Colonies that ended the revolutionary war. This resulted in British recognition of American independence and Great Britain’s releasing territory in the east and west, which doubled the size of the new nation.
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Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 established how the government of the United States would divide and distribute the land it acquired from Great Britain at the end of the American Revolution. Native Americans did not believe that the land belong to them and Congressmen were concerned that settlers would move west and establish their own nation. The solution s was to divide the territory into individual townships. -
bill for establishing religious freedom
Thomas Jefferson drafted the Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom in 1777, but it was not passed by the state legislature until 1786. The statute gives arguments for freedom of belief, separation of religion and state and disestablished the Church of England. -
Constitutional Convention
Delegates at the Annapolis Convention requested that a convention be held to discuss possible improvements to the Articles of Confederation which made the central govern
ment weak. The Philadelphia Constitutional Convention resulted in a federal government with more specific powers. -
Shays Rebellion
Protests in 1786 and 1787 by American farmers against state/local enforcement of tax and debt collection. The most serious losses were in Massachusetts, where farmers were faced with losing their farms. State militia stopped the rebels in several engagements in the winter of 1787. [link text] (http://www.history.com/topics/shays-rebellion0 -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were four bills signed by President John Adams that were meant to increase national security. -
George Washington's Inaugural Address
On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath as the first president of the United States. Washington delivered the first inaugural address in the Senate Chamber to a joint session of Congress. -
Ratification of Constitution
The ratification of Constitution was a long process. Antifederalists opposed the Constitution for several reasons, one being that the Constitutional Convention didn't adopt a bill of rights proposed by George Mason. James Madison agreed that a bill of rights was needed so federalists told the public that one will be created. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Pennsylvania farmers rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey. An army led by Washington squash the rebellion of demonstrated the power of the new government. -
Jay's Treaty
Created because of the tensions between the United States and Britain. Because of the America's decision to side with the British in the French Revolutionary war John Jay was sent to negotiate with the British government. The resulting treaty was unpopular with the American public, but was through the Senate on a 20 to 10. -
Treaty of Greenville
General Wayne defeated the Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers which gave America access to all of Ohio.
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Pinckney's Treaty
Pinckney's Treaty was signed on October 27, 1795 and it established intentions of friendship between the United States and Spain, defined the boundaries of the United States with the Spanish colonies and gave the United States navigation rights on the Mississippi River. -
Washington Farewll (Address)
The Farewell Address is a letter from George Washington to the American people about his resignation from office. (Listen to "One Last Time" from Hamilton) -
The Election of 1796
The election of 1796 was a month long election between Federalist John Adams and Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson. John Adams won the presidency with a 71 electoral vote. (Wiki, University of Houston) -
XYZ Affair
Pres. Adams sent diplomats to France in order to work out their strained relations. The French would not bend until the United States paid them a large sum of money. Pres. Adams refused and rudely referred to the French Dipolmats as "X, Y and Z" when publicly discussing the relations. -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolution
Made to gain back the right take a away in the Alien and Sedition acts -
Quasi-war
The Quasi-war as a war fought almost entirely at sea between the French and the British about the US's status as neutral during the French Revolution. -
French Revolution
Although the United States promised the French that they would help in their own revolution, the United States sided with the British at the urging of Hamilton because of feared repercussions of the American Revolution. -
Election of 1800
Was an election between John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The election ended in an electoral tie between Burr and Jefferson.
