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Newburgh Conspiracy
This was the threat of an uprising in the Continental Army. A letter circulated around the army camped at Newburgh, NY. It suggested that the army, whose soldiers were discontented over pay and a lack of funding for promised pensions, should take action against Congress to resolve the issue. Washington gave a speech to his officers imploring them to support Congress, and Congress approved a plan that gave the soldiers five years of full pay. -
Treaty of Paris
Marked the end of the American Revolution. Negotiations involved Great Britain recognizing America's independence, the right for American fishers to access traditinal fisheries in Canadian waters, and Great Britain ceding to the US more territory in America. America then agreed to use it's power to end Loyalist persecution. Both agreed not to block creditors from seeking to recover debts owed to them. -
Land Ordinance of 1784
Called for the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains, north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River to be divided into ten separate states. -
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Economic Depression
After the revolution, America had sunk deeply into debt. Trade was cut off between America and Briatin and the British colonies in the Carribeans, two of America's major sources of commerce. Many state legislatures passed laws that helped farmers deal with their debt. This angered some, and arguments were sparked between "those with [property] and those without"- James Madison -
Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 set forth how the government of the United States would measure, divide and distribute the land it had acquired from Great Britain north and west of the Ohio River at the end of the American Revolution. -
The United States Adopts a Decimal Coinage System
The dollar was overwhelmingly selected as the monetary unit, the first time any nation had done so. -
Third Treaty of Hopewell
Between representatives of the Confederation Congress of the United States and the Indian nation of the Choctaw, known as one of the five civilized tribes. It was designed to designate land and rights to the Native Americans. -
Annapolis Convention
Five state delegates at a meeting in Annapolis, Maryland call for Congress to hold a convention in Philadelphia in order to write a constitution for the thirteen states. -
Shay's Rebellion
Many farmers in the Massachusetts area fell into debt, and their properties were seized. As a result, some of the farmers rebelled, under the leadership of Daniel Shays. Governor James Bowdoin put together a military and crushed the resistance, but voters turned against him in the next election. Shay's Rebellion threatened the political notions of many political and social elites. Also, it caused many to agree that the US needed a different type of government than the Articles of Confederation. -
Roger Sherman Comprimise
A compromise during the Constitutional Convention proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut solves the problem of the amount of votes each state would receive in Congress. A bicameral legislature would be enacted, with equal votes for the Senate and proportional representation based on population in the House of Representatives. -
Northwest Ordinance
Adopted by the Second Continental Congress, the Northwest Ordinance chartered a government for the Northwest Territory, provided a method for admitting new states to the Union from the territory, and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. It guaranteed freedom of religion, school support, and no slavery, plus the opportunity for statehood. -
Article No. 10 of the Federalist Papers
Written by James Madison, Article No. 10 declared that the Constitution created a government that was capable of handling violent factions, by controling their effects (not removing the causes). It also refuted the belief that it was impossible to extend a republican government over a large territory, despite the many factions. -
Article No. 51 of the Federalist Papers
This article, written by James Madison, emphasized the importance of checks and balances in a government. He proposed that each branch of government should be balanced so that no one culd overpower the others. -
Constitution Ratified
September 17, 1787, a majority of the delegates of the Constitutional Convention approved the Constitution. By June 21, 1788, the ratification process for the Constitution was completed when New Hampshire ratified it, the ninth state to do so. It went into effect on March 4, 1789. -
1st Congress
The 1st Congress met in Federal Hall, New York City, with regular sessions beginning two months later on April 6. Frederick A. Muhlenberg became the first Speaker of the newly formed House of Representatives. George Washington was elected unanimously by the Electoral College as the 1st President of the United States. -
US Government Begins to Act
In Federal Hall, New York City, a converted Customs House, the government of the United States under the United States Constitution begins to act. The U.S. Constitution is declared to be in effect. -
George Washington Inauguration
The 1st President, George Washington, is inaugurated in New York City. He had been chosen president by all voting electors (there was no direct presidential election) with John Adams elected Vice President. -
Bill of Rights Released
The Bill of Rights is submitted to the states by Congress. It was the first ten ammendments to the Constitution, and addressed peoples' concerns about the Constitution giving way to tyranny. -
Federal Judiciary Act is Passed
Established the structure and jurisdiction of the federal court system and created the position of attorney general. The Supreme Court consisted of a Chief Justice and five associate justices. In each state, a federal judge presided over a United States district court. The middle tier of the judiciary consisted of United States circuit courts; two Supreme Court justices and the local district judge presided in the circuit courts. -
Rhode Island Ratifies Constitution
When faced with the prospect of being treated as a foreign nation by the new federal government, Rhode Island called a ratifying convention, and, by a mere 2 votes, became the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify on May 29, 1790.
