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Virginia Declaration of Rights
Setting the precedent for following state constitutions, this document written by George Mason declared that all men are created "equally free and independent," and that sovereign power rests with the people, not the government; people have the rights to their own property, happiness, and a fair trial. These declarations became the founding elements of many amendments of the Bill of Rights; as well as, they created the idea that the government should protect the liberties of its people. -
Ratification of the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was written by the Continental Congress to be the first original outline for a federal government of the new politically independent America. While written on November 15, 1777, the articles weren't ratified until 1781 because of the fear many states had of loosing sovereignty and power to a strong central government that reminded them of British Parliament. Because of this, the articles established a weak federal government that derived its power from the states. -
Treaty of Paris
To end the Revolutionary War, representatives of King George III and 5 representatives of the American colonies met in Paris to sign a peace treaty. The treaty laid the foundation for the new relationship between Great Britain and America for years to come. For the first time, Britain acknowledged America to be sovereign and independent, and boundaries between the two's lands were established. America was finally to be officially addressed as its own politically independent nation. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
Passed by Congress under the Articles of Confederation, this act created an ordered grid system of survey for which Congress would sell all public land west of the 13 colonies under. It also outlined how a state and its government could come into existence under the Union based on its population number. This system heavily shaped the Northern American landscape and explains why the western states are divided the way the are. This act also symbolizes the lost of many Natives' land for US sale. -
Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom (1777-1786)
First drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777 and then later introduced to the VA General Assembly in 1779, this document called for a separation between the Anglican church of Virginia and its government. While many states did swiftly accept this religious freedom doctrine (not until 1786 for VA though), many ties between religion and government remained. However, this document still sets up the precedent for the Constitution's wall of separation between church and state for the future. -
Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787)
Shays' Rebellion was a series of armed protests by debt-ridden farmers in western MA who faced losing their farms to state governments during an economic depression. The MA governor asked for federal aid in halting the rebellion, but with no power to create an army under the AOC, Congress could do nothing. The significance of this rebellion was that it provided evidence to nationalists that the distribution of power between state and federal government was inadequate, and change was needed. -
Constitutional Convention
With the intent to revise the Articles of Confederation, delegates from the 13 colonies (such as Washington, Hamilton, and Madison) met in Philadelphia between May and September of 1787. However, instead of solely revising the articles, they actually created a whole new plan of government of the US which they outlined in the Constitution. The important difference of this government in comparison to the one under the articles was that it had a much stronger federal central government. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
In this act, Congress established a system of government and prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory. The plan was to create 3-5 states in that area and place them and their own assemblies under a federal appointed court of judges and governor. This improved act would model how future territories would be incorporated into the US as co-equal states for many years to come. -
Ratification of the Constitution
After its secret completion on September 17, 1787, the Constitution was sent to the states, where at least a 9/13 states' approval was needed for its ratification. The document and its strong central government was met with outrage by some, and a propaganda race between Federalists and Anti-Federalists began. It was passed, however, with New Hampshire's ratification of it, and from there a new strong federal government replaced the weak one established under the Articles of Confederation. -
French Revolution
Beginning in 1789, an overthrow of the royal monarchy erupted in France, of which was met with much American support and enthusiasm. However, as the revolt became increasingly violent, American opinion became divided under Washington's front of neutrality. People divided among pro-British (they are a necessary economic partner) and pro-French (they represent the ideals US had fought for). This divide would eventually heighten and create political parties in America after Washington's retirement. -
George Washington Inauguration
Sworn in by Chancellor of New York Robert Livingston in Federal Hall, New York City, George Washington's inauguration made him the first president of the United States with John Adams as his Vice President. This started his first four year term as the executive leader of the infant nation. Washington was the most ideal first president because of the precedent he set for all other presidents of adhering to the Constitution and other branches, not overusing the veto power, and not being a king. -
Whiskey Rebellion (1791-1794)
After the implementation of an excise tax on the distillation of whiskey in 1791, many farm families of western Pennsylvania began to protest saying this tax was violation of the personal freedoms of the Revolution. The revolt reached its peak in 1794, forcing Washington to take action as he and a federal army of 13,000 men squashed the rebellion. This showed how the new federal government could act quickly with much power and was very interested in maintaining the Nation's success. -
Jay's Treaty
Representatives of the United States (John Jay) and of Great Britain signed this peace negotiation where America made many trade concessions and a "most-favored-nation" status to the British, in return for British withdrawal from American soil and repaid damages for taken American ships. While it was met with great backlash from pro-French Americans, the treaty played an integral part of keeping the young, weak American republic out of a war with the British that could have destroyed them. -
Treaty of Greenville
After a native loss at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the Northwest Indian War in the Ohio country was ended with this treaty between the natives of the Northwest and the Americans.The treaty forced the natives to cede most of their land to the US government for them to create the state of Ohio and eventually established a boundary line between Native lands of the encroaching American settlers.However, this line was disregarded, displaying a constant pattern of Americans forcefully stealing land. -
Pinckney's Treaty
After an embarrassing defeat at the hands France, the Spanish feared the lost of their American empire, so they negotiated with US envoy Thomas Pinckney to create this treaty and establish the boundary of the 31st parallel with the US. This opened up the Us's ability to transport and store goods along the Mississippi River and Spanish port of New Orleans. This would help America establish its sovereignty and economic power over west of the Appalachian mountains. -
Washington's Farewell
Drafted by Madison and Hamilton and revised by Washington himself, this Farewell Address was published in Philadelphia's largest newspaper signifying to everyone that Washington (and all presidents after him) would be formally ending his run as president after 2 terms. Four major points were made in the address: preservation of the union, danger of faction, morality of the officials, and neutrality of the US in foreign affairs.This address set the precedent for how the US would behave for years. -
Election of 1796
After Washington refusing to serve another term, the first contested presidential election occurred between party-divided John Adams (a Federalist) and Thomas Jefferson (a Democratic-republican). In the end, Adams became the president and Jefferson became the VP, marking the only time the president and VP were of opposing tickets. This event showed the deep growing political divide among politicians at the time. -
XYZ Affair (1797-1798)
After the US's refusal to aid France in their war with Britain, the French began attack American ships, which caused President Adams to send group of three representatives over to France to negotiate. French minister Talleyrand's representatives (XYZ) demanded bribes from the US which outraged Americans to want to declare war. However, Adams eventually ended the hostilities which saved the US from being in a real war with France that could have ruined them. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Under a Federalist-dominated Congress and Federalist president John Adams, this four act bill was passed that created a stricter regime on foreigners in the US during the US-French crisis. However, one the the acts also prohibited critics of the government (democratic-republicans) from speaking against it. These acts restricted the freedoms and liberties of both foreigners and Americans causing a lot of backlash against Adams and a backlash against the US's strong federal government. -
Quasi-War
After the XYZ Affair, America and French Republic partook in an undeclared war on the Atlantic Ocean. The American army was tripled and Washington came out of retirement, however, President Adams' representatives in France eventually cooled the situation down with the signing of the Convention of 1800, and no real war occurred. This marked a close call for America where, if a war had been fully waged the infant republic might have not survived. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Secretly written by Madison and Jefferson in 1798 and 1799, these documents where adopted by these state legislatures who believed that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional and not in line with the Constitution. These resolutions highlighted the political divide among American ideals at the time and showed the argument for states' rights and strict constructionism. -
Election of 1800
This was the fourth presidential election which had the rematch between Federalist John Adams and Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson came out on top which realigned the government in favor of Deomcratic-Republican rule. This would serve as the point where the Federalist Party was to be wiped out of existence.
