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Election of George Washington
George Washington was elected on February 4, 1789. He was inaugurated in New York City on April 30, 1789. As he was the first president, Washington set many precedents, or examples for others to follow. One was choosing well-known leaders to serve in his cabinet. He also named John Jay the first Chief Justice of the United States. -
Bill of Rights added to the Constitution
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution on December 15, 1791. It added ten new amendments to the Constitution. These amendments gave people a lot of rights. Without these rights, our nation would have fallen apart years ago. -
Beginning of Federalist Party
Federalists were the people who supported the approval of the Constitution to be the new law of the land. Some citizens were Federalists, because they chose to support the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.Hamilton and Jefferson were both considered Federalists at the time of the signing of the Constitution. When the issue of the first Bank of the U.S. arrived, the Federalists party split. Hamilton became the leader of the Federalists, who favored a strong central government. -
Beginning of Democratic-Republican Party
It was originally known as the Republican party. The Republicans were the first opposition party in politics in American history. Most of the anti-federalists, people who opposed the U.S. Constitution, were most of the members of the Democratic-Republicans. After Hamilton wanted a strong central government, Jefferson disagreed which led him to start the Republican party who have a strict interpretation of the law of the land. The Democratic-Republican party favored the states to have more power. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The U.S. congress in Philadelphia passed federal excise tax of seven cents per gallon on whiskey in an effort to pay off the debt incurred by the Revolutionary War. While most Americans at the time felt negatively towards taxation. The farmers of western Pennsylvania taxed rebels tarred and feathered several whiskey tax collectors and threatened or beat many who offered them office space or housing.This event showed the power of the federal government to deploy the army in a situation of crisis. -
Election of John Adams
John Adams was nominated as a member for the Federalist party. Citizens depicted him as a monarchist who wanted his son to succeed him as President. Adams had some difficulties, because rumors said that Hamilton favored Pinckney since he is more adaptable. However, the two southern elector made Adams win by a three-vote margin. -
The XYZ Affair
The XYZ Affair happened on April 1, 1797. Adams sent three diplomats to Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, the french foreign minister. He demanded $250,000 for himself and a $10 million loan to France. One of the agents angrily replied, “Not a sixpence!”. Once the agents had told Adams about the occurrence, he said to only refer to the French agents as X, Y and Z. When Americans heard about the XYZ Affair, they were outraged, and wanted war. But Adams wanted to stay uninvolved in European affairs. -
The Alien Act
Our government started worrying about subversion, which is an activity designed to overthrow a government. In response, Adams passed four laws. One of them was the Alien Act. This act gave the president power to imprison or deport aliens suspected of activities posing a threat to our national government. -
Sedition Act
This act was passed by Congress. This new law made it illegal for a person to criticize by speech or writing the government or the Constitution. Anyone who violated this law could be imprisoned or deported. This was passed just to strengthen the Federal government, because they were afraid of citizens harming the government.Many American citizens thought of this law to be unconstitutional.The Sedition Act ended when Jefferson went into office by pardoning all those arrested and repaid all fines. -
Election of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson called his election "the Revolution of 1800," because it marked the first time that power in America passed from one party to another. Jefferson promised to govern as he felt the Founders intended, based on decentralized government and trust in the people to make the right decisions for themselves.One factor that elevated Jefferson's chances of becoming President was the general mood of the country. Jefferson enjoyed quite a lot of popular support for Adam's policies. -
John Marshall Appointed
John Marshall was appointed on January 27, 1801. He was made the Chief Justice of the United States. Marshall was the Chief Justice of the US who served the longest. He served over thirty years with the Supreme Court cases and brought the Senate the power of Judicial Review. -
Marbury v. Madison
The Marbury v. Madison was a supreme court case. It took place on February 24, 1803. This case let the supreme court have the power to declare laws passed by congress constitutional or unconstitutional. This is known as the power of judicial review. Today, judicial review is known as one of the most important powers of the Supreme Court. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase happened on December 1, 1803, when Robert Livingston and James Monroe were sent by the President to negotiate with the french foreign minister, whose name was Talleyrand. At first, they had a $10 million budget to buy West Florida and New Orleans from the French. But suddenly, Talleyrand asked them if they wanted to buy all of Louisiana. The next day, they decided on a grand total of $15 million. Jefferson declared it constitutional, finally purchasing Louisiana. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark started up the Mississippi River with their band of people known as the ‘Corps of Discovery’. They traveled across the plains and met Sacagawea, a translator from the Shoshone tribe. After crossing the Continental Divide and reaching their goal, the Pacific Ocean, the explorers returned to New Orleans with great news about the Louisiana Purchase. -
Embargo Act
This act was passed by Congress to retaliate from restricting neutral shipping and the Continental System. The embargo hurt both the Americans and British and French. It prevented trade to and from American ports to prove the value of national commerce. Congress eventually passed an act to enforce the embargo more stern which almost led to a point of rebellion. The embargo was finally replaced by the Non-intercourse Act which ended the conflict with Britain and France. -
Election of James Madison
ames Madison was 57 years old when he went into this election. There were stories that made fun of Madison’s physical stature and situations related to the embargo. The Federalist party charged him for supporting the embargo to help domestic companies. Even though Madison was criticized and made fun of, he won the election over his opponents. Most of his votes were from the New England region of the Union. -
Non-Intercourse Act
The act prohibited commercial intercourse with Britain and France, and it also prevented vessels of France and Britain to sail U.S. waters. This also made it illegal to import from those countries, and repealed the embargo. The Federalist party were against it and wanted war with Britain. This act was favored by both parties for a little while. This law was no more effective than the Embargo Act. It was finally repealed by the bill known as the Macon’s Bill Number 2. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a conflict between the Untied States and the Untied Kingdom of great Britain and Ireland and its North American colonies in Canada. They War began in 1812 and ended in 1815, the U.S. declared war on Britain on July 18, 1812 after years of enduring British restrictions and attacks on American shipping.Many pro-war American saw a new war with Britain as the American independence; in fact, the war became known as the Second War of Independence. -
Battle of New Orleans
The British wanted to gain control of New Orleans, because it was near the mouth of the Mississippi River and would help the British economy. The British planned to attack all sides of the American barricades, but the British advance across the open field in daylight. Jackson depended on the state militia to help him defeat the British army.The battle ended with an American victory, and only eight people killed. Even though the Treaty of Ghent was written, it arrived after an U.S. victory. -
Election of James Monroe
He was a Democratic-Republican nomination to replace Madison in the election. Citizens throughout the country supported Monroe to become president. He was popular, because he was the “last framer” of the U.S. Constitution. Even though, Monroe had a lot of diplomatic failure, his popularity helped him fight through the election. He won all the states except: Connecticut, Delaware, and Massachusetts, which made the total vote for him at 183. -
Expanded Suffrage to all white males
This means white males gained the rights to vote. New States have different restrictions: people don’t have to own property to vote, but still have to be White and over 21. Some states also have different restrictions: Some Free Blacks can vote if they own property, but Jewish people can’t vote. And, Missouri enters as slave state, from the Missouri Compromise, but no more states can not enter as a slave state above 36, 30 N. -
Missouri Compromise
In 1818, Missouri asked the Union for it to become a state. Most of the population were from the south so it was going to be a slave state. However, the Senate decided it would unbalance the Union so they decided to make Maine a free state maintaining the balance. The Missouri Compromise stated the all the states above a certain point in the Louisiana Purchase would become a free state, and all the states below that point would be a slave state with the exception of Missouri. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was declared by James Monroe that the United States would not interfere with European affairs. Also, he warned European nations to not attempt to regain control of the newly independent nations in Latin America. However, we didn’t have any army to back up the Monroe Doctrine. But luckily, Britain, Germany, and France followed this statement. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
The case Gibbons v. Ogden is a case that furthered the power of the national government to control trade between the states. It started when a New York law wanted to control steamboat companies that travel between New York and New Jersey was denied by the Supreme Court, because it was against the Supremacy Clause. The final decision of the trial was that the state governments did not have the power to regulate trade with other states, but the power is given to the national government. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
It started when the state of Maryland passed a law to tax the Band of the U.S. The cashier, John McCulloch, of the Baltimore branch bank did not pay the tax. This case was brought before the court which ruled that Maryland couldn’t tax the bank. Chief Marshall, also stated that the federal government has many powers that are not mentioned in the Constitution. This case challenged the U.S. Constitution which ended with Marshall saying that “the power to tax involves the power to destroy.” -
Election of 1824
This election proved the end of the “era of good feelings,” because all candidates were Democratic-Republicans.This was known as the “corrupt bargain,” because Adams had Henry Clay help him in the election.He told Clay that he should help him become President, and if he does, Adams will make Clay Secretary of State.None of the candidates had more than 50% of the electoral vote, making the state vote for President.Clay made the decision to vote for Adams, since he was the best qualified man. -
Election of Andrew Jackson
His campaign was the first to use a professional political organization to get voter support. Voters participation grew in this election for the first time in American History making the election the focus of the citizens. A new democratic age was started when this election signalled a watershed in the countries political history. Jackson was from the common people, who became the seventh president with over 54% of the popular vote. -
Beginning of Democratic Party (Jacksonian Democracy)
The Democratic Party started when Jackson lost the election of 1824 to John Quincy Adams. This party was a response to the states constitution which required money, people, and organizations to run campaigns. Jackson used this party to help him in the election of 1828.The supporters of the Democratic Party were mostly the “common man,” because Jackson was once a “common man.” Jackson believed in the power of the president in which he negotiated trade agreements, and he was not economically savv. -
Indian Removal Act
This act was signed by Jackson to get unsettled lands west of the Appalachian mountains in exchange for Indian lands. Some Indian tribes refused to relocate somewhere else, while other tribes moved without complaint. Also, the Seminole, Fox, and Choctaw Indians had to evacuate their homes. The Cherokees were eventually forced to move in the winter of 1838 which eventually killed about 4,000 Indians. The trails the Indians died on is now known as the “Trail of Tears.” -
Worcester v. Georgia
In the 1832 case of Worcester v. Georgia, Chief Justice John Marshall declared Georgia’s action unconstitutional. It also stated that the Native Americans were protected by the Untied Stated Constitution. President Jackson refused to enforce the Court’s decision.The Cherokees went to court, arguing treaties with the federal government to protect their rights and property. The case reached the Supreme court which is now known as Worcester v. Georgia. -
Closing of the US Bank
Andrew Jackson was angry at the Bank of the US. He thought it was too powerful and undemocratic. He also did not like Nicholas Biddle, who was President of the bank since 1823. But Nicholas Biddle, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster thought of a way to save the bank, and as a bonus, defeat Jackson. In 1832, Clay put the charter renewal bill through Congress, but Jackson vetoed it. His two reasons were that the Bank only helped aristocrats, not the common people and the Bank was unconstitutional.
