-
Virginia Declaration of Rights
George Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights. It highlighted that the sovereignty was in the people and that the government served the people. Also, said the people have the right to reform, change, or end their government. And talked about the trial by jury, freedom of press and freedom of religion. These ideas affected the future Bill of Rights and his ideas were put into it. This led to other states making their own Declarations and encouraging people to become more involved. -
Ratification of Articles of Confederation
Finalized the Ratification in March 1781. The Confederation didn't give a strong central government in which the Federalists wanted. This change of the power led to the Constitution which gave the federal government more power. The change of the power led to a more unified country and government. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty of Paris was a series of negotiations between the Us, France, Spain and Britain. These made a final end to the Revolutionary War. France signed a treaty with the British in fear of future American-Britain alliance. The Americans were able to play the British and French since they wouldn't be in the same room. The Americans received the most out of the Treaty of Paris, which was actually signed in Versailles. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
The land ordinance divided land into townships of 640 acres each. Thomas Jefferson didn't agree with the fact that the land was to be auctioned off for less than an dollar per acre. He thought that it should be given to settlers. Congress sold 1.5 million acres for 1 million dollars to the Ohio Company, before it was publicly sold. Some people illegally bought land and eventually were evicted by soldiers hired by Congress. The plan was revise through the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. -
Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
The bill says that "our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions any more than our opinions in physics or geometry." It influenced the Bill of rights and the freedom of religion. By Virginia making this bill they influenced many other states to do the same. -
Shays’ Rebellion
Was a series of protests from 1786 to 1787 by farmers in America against the state for taxes and judgments of debt. Led by Daniel Shays of Massachusetts, who was a former captain in the Continental Army. The bulk of the rebellions happened in Massachusetts where there was bad harvests. economic depression, and high taxes. Due to these high taxes many farmers almost lost their farms. Many politicians saw it as justification for the ratification of the Constitution. -
Constitutional convention
At the Constitutional convention there were 55 men from 12 statues met in Philadelphia. They made two branches of representation: House of Representatives and Senate. The house delegates based on size of the state while in the senate every state had the same amount of delegates, coming from the Great Compromise. Constitution was approved September 17, 1787. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 made the creation of a government for the Northwest Territory. Eventually, the self-government changed to court appointed governors until the population was at 5,000 white males. This territory was the future states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Arthur St. Clair was appointed by Congress to be the first governor of the Ohio region. -
Ratification of Constitution
The supporters of the constitution were known as the Federalist and the opposition was the Anti-Federalists. Anti-Federalists said that the Articles of Confederation had already given a balance between state and federal government. They thought the Constitution gave the federal government too much power. Several states joined the Union and supported the Constitution because they were told that the Bills of Rights would be included. -
George Washington Inauguration
George Washington was sworn in as the First President of the United States on April 30, 1789 by Robert R. Livingston. This was significant because it was proof that the colonies weren't really colonies anymore. They were their own country and even had a president in federal government. -
Whiskey Rebellion
It was a protest against the Whiskey tax, a tax made by A. Ham on whiskey as a domestic product in the new country. After an unpleasant visit from the US Marshall, the farmers rebelled against them. George Washington led a militia to Pennsylvania, but the farmers had left. This showed how Washington was willingly to fight for the country and peace he helped create. -
Jay Treaty
John Jay went to London to work on a settlement that would help the British defeat the French. The treaty made the British leave American territory, limited trade with British, and was a symbol of American neutrality during war. -
Treaty of Greenville
It was a treaty signed at present day Greenville, Ohio, followed negotiations with the Natives after their loss at Battle of Fallen Timber. Established yearly grants of federal money and provided cloth to the Natives. This kept American government involved in Natives way of life and economy. -
Pinckney Treaty
On the treaty the lines between West and East Florida were agreed on for both countries. After the revolutionary war the Spain moved the boundary to the one in the Treaty of Paris but the US went to the old boundary. Also, agreed both could use the Mississippi River and didn't have tariffs or embargoes on the other.This helped the US to have better trading and international partners for future issues. -
Washington Farewell
Washington released these papers to announce his resignation from the presidency after 8 years. This scared the American people because they didn't know who was to lead and if they could ever replicate Washington's leadership. The foreign policy plan hoped that the US would end alliances with foreign nations, -
Election of 1796
The election of 1796 the winner was John Adams and the runner-up was Thomas Jefferson, who became the vice president.Adams was a federalist and Jefferson a democratic-republican, makung the admistration divided. Both parties campiagned with fliers, rallies, and posters unlike previous elections. -
XYZ affair
During the Adams Administration, Adams sent representatives to France to work for negotiations in place of France's bribery. America was offended by the bribery and left France before negotiations could happen. It led to the Quasi War. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Congress passed acts that limited freedom of speech and pressured liberty in the U.S. Naturalization Act extended time of residence required for citizenship. Alien and Alien Enemies Act authorized deportation of suspicious foreigns. Sedition Act made heavy fines against people speaking against the government. Republicans opposed the acts and the federalists used them to defeat Republicans. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
These were reactions to the Alien and Sedition Acts written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. They both said that federal government had no power to use that wasn't in the Constitution. Virginia- Madison and Kentucky- Jefferson. They were dangerous because showed the citizens how their federal government was not always using its power correctly. -
French Revolution (relate to US)
Originally, enthusiastic about the future democracy but lost interest. The US stayed neutral in the French Revolution despite Thomas Jefferson's demands to aiding the French. -
Quasi War
It was an undeclared war at sea between America and France. The convention of 1800 on September 30, 1800 ended the Quasi War. Though it did not help Adams get reelected because the news became to late to affect the election. -
Election of 1800
When Adams term was coming to an end, the federalists were divided, French wanted to settle arguments, Adams accepted the agreement but Federalists were angry. First campaign with two parties; Thomas Jefferson and Burr won. Showed the flaws of the electoral college, eventually the 12th amendment.
