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Declaration of Independence
One of the foremost documents in American history is the one that explained the reasons that the colonies were declaring their independence from Great Britain in 1776, shortly after the outbreak of the American Revolution. -
Shay's rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was an insurgent movement led by Daniel Shays during 1786-1787 in western Massachusetts. -
Constitution convention
Depiction of the Constitution signing during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia. -
The great compromise
The Federalist Papers were among the most important products of the Federalist-Antifederalist debate over the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. -
Election of 1796
Map depicting which states John Adams (Federalist) and Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) won in the presidential election of 1796. -
Alien and Sedition Act
A series of four laws championed by the Federalists in the U.S. Congress and President John Adams, the Alien and Sedition Acts enacted several restrictions against recent immigrants to the United States, as well as limited civil liberties for U.S. citizens, under the guise of preparing the United States for its entry into the Napoleonic Wars against France. -
Virginia Resolution
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions suggested that the United States was a compact and that states had the right, even the duty, to "interpose" to stop unconstitutional federal actions. -
Election of 1800
The election of 1800 was particularly important because it was the first election in which power was peacefully transferred from one national political party to another. -
Midnight appointment
Midnight judges was the name given to the 16 Federalists granted judgeships by the Judiciary Act of 1801. -
Purchase of Luisianca
America bought Luisiana territory of France in order to expand to the West. -
Embargo Act
During President Thomas Jefferson's administration, the embargo of 1807-1809 halted all trade between the United States and foreign nations in response to both British and French restrictions on neutral trade during the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. -
The act that prohibit the importation of slaves
On March 2, 1807, the U.S. Congress passed an Act to Prohibit the Importation of Slaves to end the profitable international slave trade. -
war of 1812
A multipart exploration focusing on the War of 1812 and the political support it received in different areas of the United States. -
James Moroe
Portrait of James Monroe, president of the United States (1817-1825). -
Missouri compromise
Missouri's application for statehood in 1819 caused considerable controversy because, if it had been admitted as a slave state, Missouri would have tipped the balance in the Senate toward slave states. -
The Monroe Docrine
A multipart exploration focusing on President James Monroe's Monroe Doctrine, which established important principles in American foreign policy. -
Election of 1828
The election of 1828 resulted in the election of Democrat Andrew Jackson over National Republican candidate John Quincy Adams.
