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A document written by the American colonies declaring their independence from Great Britain. It explained why the colonies wanted to be free and listed all the rights they believed the people should have. -
The Articles of Confederation were the first written constitution of the US. It established a weak central government with most of its power towards the states. -
The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to promote the U.S. Constitution. They talked about why the Constitution was important and how it should work. -
The Northwest Ordinance was a set of rules for how new states could join the United States. The law banned slavery in the Northwest Territory, limiting the spread of slavery in the country. -
George Washington became the first president of the United States and was sworn in office on April 30, 1789. His inauguration set many guidelines for future presidents, including the inaugural address and the oath of office. -
The Bill of Rights were the first 10 amendments to the Constitution of the United States. They were added to protect the rights of individuals. -
A significant speech given by President Washington when he left office. In his address, he spoke about the importance of national unity and avoiding foreign affairs. Pres. Washington also warned against political affairs and foreign alliances. -
John Adams was sworn in as the second president of the United States. He had 1 term only after getting beat by Jefferson. -
President Thomas Jefferson is sworn in as the third president of the United States. He won the election against Pres. John Adams. -
The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of laws passed by Congress in 1798. The acts were aimed to restrict the influence of immigrants and limit freedom of speech and the press. -
Supreme Court case that established the Supreme Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional, the principle of judicial review. -
The Louisiana Purchase was when the U.S. bought over 828,000 square miles of land from France. The purchase doubled the size of the country. -
War between the US and Great Britain. The war was fought over the impressment of American sailors by the British Navy, as well as disagreements over trade, western expansion, and Native American policy. -
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement to maintain the balance of power between slave and free states. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. The company also established a line across the Louisiana territory stating slavery was illegal north of the line. -
The Monroe Doctrine was a policy that prevented European colonization in the Western Hemisphere. The doctrine also stated the US would not interfere with any existing colonies in the Americas.