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Election of George Washington
George Washingon’s election was not really an election. No one ran against him and pretty much everyone thought he should be president. He was elected as America’s first president and served two terms. John Adams was elected as Vice President. Washington thought the U.S. should avoid European conflict and remain neutral. He also disapproved of political parties, thinking they would divide the nation and tear it apart. -
Bill of Rights Added to the Constitution
To please Anti-Federalists, several states had only agreed to sign the Constitution if a Bill of Rights was added. Anti-Federalists were concerned for individual liberties and wanted a guarantee and individual rights in a written document. The Bill of Rights was the first ten amendments to the Constitution (of which their would eventually be 27). It insured personal rights such as the right to freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and press. -
Beginning of the Federalist Party - December 5, 1792
The Federalist party began when the Constitution was being ratified. Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote the Federalist Papers in 1787 to convince Anti-Federalists to ratify. The Federalist party thought there was no need for a Bill of Rights.The leader of the Federalists was Alexander Hamilton. The Federalists evolved and developed beliefs in a strong federal government, more industrial-based economy, and looser inte -
Beginning of Democratic-Republican Party - December 5, 1792
The Democratic-Republican party was founded in opposition of the Federalist party. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were the main leaders of this party. This party believed in a strong state governments.This party still had many problems with Great Britain and supported France in the French Revolution. This party was kind of an evolution of the Anti-Federalist party and supported stricter interpretation of the Constitution and a more agricultural economy. -
Whiskey Rebellion - October 1, 1794
The Whiskey Rebellion was started by the farmers, who sold converted their crops to liquor to make them easier to transport, to protest the new tax on whiskey. When the collectors came, some farmers would tar and feather them. Also, rebels torched the home of General John Neville in the Battle of Bower Hill in July 1724. Washington proved that the federal government was strong and sent out federal troops, crushing the rebellion in October 1794. -
Election of John Adams - December 7, 1796
John Adams was the second president of America and was elected in 1797. He was elected during the first political party divided election. Adams was a Federalist and his vice president, Thomas Jefferson, was a Democratic-Republican. Before his presidency he was a political figure in Boston. During his presidency, Adams signed the Alien & Sedition Acts. There was a lot of conflict with France during his presidency, including the XYZ Affair. -
XYZ Affair
The French had begun seizing American ships in the West Indies, so John Adams sent diplomats to Paris to discuss the rights of neutral nations. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand sent three agents to offer the Americans a deal. Before negotiations could begin, Talleyrand wanted $250,000 for himself and a $10 million loan to France. Angrily, the American diplomats refused. Americans called for war. Adams avoided war by building frigates, which discouraged French attacks. -
Alien Act
The Alien Act was a law pushed through Congress during the French Revolution. It changed the requirement of living in the U.S. 5 years to become a citizen to having to live in the U.S. 14 years to become a citizen. Also, the President could expel any foreigner thought to be dangerous to the country. This act was passed to help prevent subversion from French immigrants and to help the Federalists retain power (since immigrants usually voted for Republicans). -
Seditation act July 14, 1798
The act completely forbid any normal citizen to speak out in contempt against the president or government. This was obviously a direct violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution. Before 1801, which was when the Sedition act was set to expire, there were four out of the five Republican newspapers were charged with Sedition and sued. Jefferson, who was strongly against this act, pardoned all arrested by it when he became president. -
Election of Thomas Jefferson - December 3, 1800
Because of the dislike for Jefferson during his campaign, federalists spread false rumors about Jefferson dying. Despite these horrendous rumors and hate for him, Jefferson simply ignored them and continued his campaign. The election votes were very close however in 1800, but the Democratic-Republicans emerged victorious. Jefferson was put into office February 17, 1801 with his Vice President as Aaron Burr. -
John Marshall Appointed
Between Jefferson’s election and inauguration, John Adams created several judicial positions and appointed Federalists to those offices to keep Federalist power strong. One of the people he appointed was John Marshall to the position of Chief Justice. The nomination was confirmed on January 27, 1801. John Marshall was swore in on February 4, 1801. John Marshall went on to decide many important cases that clarified federal power and strengthened the judicial branch. -
Marbury vs. Madison
William Marbury was one of the judges appointed on Adam’s last night as president. Marbury sued Madison for not delivering the papers confirming his appointment. In this case, Marshall ruled in favor of Madison and ruled the Judiciary Act unconstitutional. This case set the important precedent of judicial review (the ability of the judicial branch to rule laws unconstitutional), which helped strengthen the judicial branch’s and federal government’s power. -
Louisiana Purchase
The New Orleans was an important port for western farmers. The Mississippi River was vital for trade. The United States had signed Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain that insured their use of the Mississippi, but Spain returned Louisiana to France. Jefferson, worried about trade, sent Robert Livingston and James Monroe to buy New Orleans and West Florida from Napoleon. France, needing money for the war in Europe, offered all of Louisiana to the Americans. The Americans paid $15 million for Louisiana. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Jefferson chose Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to head an expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase. He told them to establish trade and learn about Indians. They started up the Missouri River from St. Louis and explored a lot of Northwest America, meeting Indians as they went. Sacagawea guided them to the Rockies, where the Shoshones gave them advice on the Rockies. They reached the Pacific Ocean and returned to America in 1806 with a lot of information about the Louisiana Purchase. -
Embargo Act - December 21, 1807
During Jefferson's presidency, he still continued to face challenges from Europe. Britain and France continued to violate the U.S. shipping rights; Britain for example would impress thousands of men on the ships. In 1807, Jefferson passed the Embargo Act which stopped all foreign trade. This backfired quickly with boycotts and the economy spiralled down because of it. -
Election of James Madison - December 7, 1808
Madison was a Virgina federalist who helped write the Federalist Papers and also sponsored the Bill of Rights. Madison was elected president in 1808 and was president through the Era of Good Feelings. In 1812, he fought for the shipping rights and pressed against the French and British aggressions. He eventually declared war on Britain (which became the War of 1812). -
Non- intercourse act - March 1, 1809
Congress removed the Embargo Act and replaced it with Non-intercourse act, which lifted all embargo's except those bound to American and British ports. After about a year, James Madison came into presidency with a still corrupt economy. So in order to stabilize, Congress passed the “Macon’s Bill Act No.2”. This restored all trades throughout the foreign nations, with the promise that the Non-Intercourse act would be revived in case Britain or France violated U.S. shipping rights. -
War of 1812 - September 11, 1812 to December 24, 1814
America declared war on Britain to stop impressment and to stop the British from aiding the Native Americans. It began when France and Britain were at war, and the British kept raiding American ships and forcing American sailors into the British Navy. In 1814, the British fired at Ft. McHenry, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star Spangled Banner.” The War was ended by the Treaty of Ghent, and the last battle (fought after the treaty was signed) was the Battle of New Orleans. -
Battle of New Orleans - January 8, 1815
The battle of New Orleans was the last battle of the War of 1812. The war had already ended but word didn’t get to the rest of the army until after the battle. The British had hoped to sail up the Mississippi, but were badly defeated by the Americans. Andrew Jackson was very famous for this war as he was a big hero in this battle. -
The Election of James Monroe - December 4, 1816
James Monroe was elected president in 1816 and served two terms. When he was elected, the Era of Good Feelings started because of the peace and prosperity that came after the War of 1812. This election diminished almost all of the Federalist party. His term also included the rise of sectionalism and Clay’s American System (which supported a new national bank, internal improvements, and a tariff on foreign goods). He also issued the Monroe Doctrine and purchased Florida. -
Expanded Suffrage to All White Males
As the U.S. expanded, states in the West started giving white males without property vote. There, any white male over 21 could vote. People in the East also fought for voting rights. Most eastern states allowed white males with no property to vote by 1830. This gave craft-workers and shopkeepers voting rights. Also in this time, many states who had allowed free blacks to vote took away their rights to vote. Near the end of the 1820s, eligible voter participation increased dramatically. -
Missouri Compromise - March 6, 1820
The Missouri Compromise said that slavery was not allowed in the north part of the Louisiana Purchase above the southern border of Missouri (but slavery was still allowed in Missouri). The south portion of the Purchase could still have slavery. The Compromise also said that, to keep slave states and free states balanced in the Senate, Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, and Maine would be broken off from Massachusetts and admitted as a free state. -
Monroe Doctrine
As Latin American nations gained independence, European powers seemed set to help Spain gain back its old colonies. Monroe issued a foreign policy statement stating that the U.S. wouldn’t interfere with European affairs or existing colonies. At the same time, he admonished European nations to try not to reclaim colonies or establish new colonies in the Americas. Britain was willing to use its strong navy to back up the doctrine. The doctrine has shaped America’s foreign policy for decades. -
Gibbons vs. Ogden - March 2, 1824
Aaron Ogden had a monopoly on steamboat trade between New York and New Jersey. Thomas Gibbons had a federally issued steamboat permit and began operating his steamboat in the region. In this court case, Ogden didn’t want Gibbons to be able to use his steamboats because Ogden didn’t want to lose business. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled in favor of Gibbons. The case upheld the principle of the federal government being in control of interstate trade and made it easier to regulate trade. -
McCulloh v. Maryland - March 6, 1824
In 1819, a case between a federal bank manager and the state of Maryland came to the Supreme Court. The case covered the state government’s ability to tax a national bank. The Court ruled that the state had no right to tax a federal institution. The case ruling declared that states had no right to interfere with federal institutions within their borders. -
Election of 1824 - December 1, 1824
This election was considered one of the most dirty elections of all times. Jackson won the most votes, but not the majority of the votes. The House of Representatives had to choose the president. Henry Clay encouraged the member of the House to vote for Adams. After Adams became president, Clay was appointed to his secratary of state in what was callede the "corrupt Bargain" by some. This election was later used against Adams in the election of 1828. -
The Election of Andrew Jackson - December 3, 1828
Jackson was widely viewed as hero because of the Battle of New Orleans. In 1828, Jackson ran for president and won. When Jackson won against John Quincy Adams, many people were happy because they thought that they were finally going to have a president with the same views as them. He mainly to common workers and was a good representation of the common man. -
Beginning of Democratic Party (Jacksonian Democracy) - December 3, 1828
This party basically grew out of conflicts between Jackson and Adams. Jackson and his supporters called themselves Democrats (this party is where the current Democratic party traces its roots). Democrats included frontier farmers and city workers. The democrats have a more liberal viewpoint on decision making.The party began when the Whig party did and occurred after the Federalist and Democratic-Republican Party died out. -
Indian Removal Act - May 28, 1830
In 1829, when Jackson became president, he wanted to expand the U.S. In order to do this, he ordered a removal act which was passed in 1830. Jackson then had the money and the authority to remove all Indians with force if deemed necessary. Over 15,000 Indians were removed from Alabama and Florida. This was called the “Trail of Tears,” because many Indians, mostly children and the elderly, died during the walk, leaving thousands of the dead behind everyday. -
Worcester vs. Georgia - March 3, 1832
Georgia fought against Worcester for residing in the Cherokee nation without a license. In the case, the Supreme Court ruled that Georgia did not have the right to regulate interaction between their Americans and Cherokee Indians. Marshall felt that Georgia’s law involving interaction with Indians violated the U.S. Constitution and several American treaties and was unconstitutional. Because the Cherokee Nation was a separate country, the federal government was in charge of interactions. -
Closing of the U.S. Bank
Jackson disliked the Bank, as he felt that it had too much power for an institution where the leaders were not elected. The Bank was run by a board of directors who were biased toward urban or industrial states. Congress tried to push renewing the Bank’s charter, but were stopped by Jackson’s veto. Eventually, Jackson won the “Bank War” and removed all federal funds from the federal bank. The funds were distributed to state “pet banks” and the Bank’s official charter expired in 1836.
