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Judiciary Act of 1789
The Judiciary Act of 1789, officially titled "An Act to Establish the Judicial Courts of the United States," was signed into law by President George Washington on September 24, 1789. Article III of the Constitution established a Supreme Court, but left to Congress the authority to create lower federal courts as needed. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
In 1798 the federalist-controlled congress passed four laws known together as the Alien and Sedition Acts. These laws were said to protect the Us, but the federalists intended them to crush opposition to war. -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolution
Kentucky and Virginia resolutions, these documents argued that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. -
The election 1796
It was also the first test of whether the nation could transfer power through a contested election. The Federalists chose Vice President John Adams as their presidential candidate, and the Republicans selected Thomas Jefferson.
