-
Period: to
First Continental Congress
From September 5, to October 26 1774 56 delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies met in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, PA to discuss their grievances with the British Crown. Their main concerns was taxation without representation, the quartering of soldiers, and tariffs raised on tea and other goods that the colonists felt were unfair. Independence was not the reason for their congregating here at that time. -
Period: to
Second Continental Congress
Convening in Philadelphia' State House, this congress commissioned five people initially to create Declaration of Independence, including John Adams; who thought it best to invite Thomas Jefferson to help draft it in order to seek the south's approval. The Second Continental Congress continued meeting after passing a resolution on July 2, 1774 and publicly asserting it two days later, in order to continue governing during the War, and up until the ratification of the Articles of Confederation. -
Ratification of Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation is Ratified. States form a weak Federal Government while retaining their individual sovereignty. The Congress of the Confederation is created. -
Period: to
Annapolis Convention
The Meeting of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government was a political convention held in Mann's Tavern in Annapolis, Maryland in which twelve delegates from five states–New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia–gathered to discuss and develop a consensus about reversing the protectionist trade barriers that each state had erected. They sought support for a broader constitutional convention to be held the following May in Philadelphia. -
Period: to
Philadelphia Convention
Initially convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, this convention ended up creating the United States Constitution. The composition of Congress, as well as "proportional representation" was debated at this convention, which ultimately led to the birth of the three branches of government, and the Senate and House of Representatives. -
Northwest Ordinance
Creation of the Northwest Territory west of the Appalachian Mountains, north of the Ohio River and south of The Great Lakes. Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Connecticut agree to relinquish their claims to aforementioned territory. Over time this land would become Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. -
George Washington Elected President
Washington would set the precedent of serving only two terms in office. His Farewell Address spokecon the necessity and importance of national union, the value of the Constitution and the rule of law, the evils of political parties and the proper virtues of a republican people. He referred to morality as "a necessary spring of popular government". He admonished the new nation to stay away from European affairs. -
Marbury v. Madison
A landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court formed the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States under Article III of the Constitution. The landmark decision helped define the boundary between the constitutionally separate executive and judicial branches of the American form of government. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
The law was recognized in the court's opinion as having specifically targeted the Bank of the United States. This case established two important principles in constitutional law. First, the Constitution grants to Congress implied powers for implementing the Constitution's express powers, in order to create a functional national government. Second, state action may not impede valid constitutional exercises of power by the Federal government. -
Presidential Election of 1828
Andrew Jackson is elected President; ushers in sweeping changes from removing old officials from office and replacing them with his own political appointees; coupled with his banking policies and use of Executive Orders to get his way led to the creation of the Whig Party. Jackson threatened South Carolina with military action in order to cease nullification of Federal Laws. Jackson also founded the Democratic party of the mid-1800's. -
Period: to
Civil War
When the Southern States seceded from the Union Lincoln sought to bring them back by reinforcing Fort Sumter, South Carolina, despite the fact that it was foreign soil when he did it. The ensuing result was the shelling of the fort, which caused the Union to declare war on the newly created Confederate States of America. After the war Federal powers were greatly expanded during reconstruction. -
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Texas v. White
In Texas v. White, the United States Supreme Court ruled unilateral secession unconstitutional, while commenting that revolution or consent of the States could lead to a successful secession. -
Election of Teddy Roosevelt
Originally succeeded William McKinley after the latter's assassination, Roosevelt was a trust buster and established what would later become the Food and Drug Administration. He orchestrated Panama's War for Independence in order to build the Panama Canal, ended a coal strike in 1902 which increased their pay, established the United States Forest Service, signed into law the creation of five National Parks, and signed the 1906 Antiquities Act, creating 18 new U.S. National Monuments. -
Period: to
FDR
Created social security, among other new Federal programs aimed at helping the poor during the Great Depression. His Presidency saw the expansion of powers for the FTC. Thought the best way to stimulate the economy was through public spending. First and only President to seek reelection after two terms in office. He also cut Federal spending. Led the country through WWII after joining the conflict in 1941. Sought to expand Executive power. -
Period: to
JFK's Presidency
Amongst the legislation passed by Congress during the Kennedy Administration, unemployment benefits were expanded, aid was provided to cities to improve housing and transportation, funds were allocated to continue the construction of a national highway system started under Eisenhower, a water pollution control act was passed to protect the country’s rivers and streams, and an agricultural act to raise farmers’ incomes was made law. -
Terry v. Ohio
Decision by the United States Supreme Court which held that the Fourth Amendment prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures is not violated when a police officer stops a suspect on the street and frisks him or her without probable cause to arrest, if the police officer has a reasonable suspicion that the person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime and has a reasonable belief that the person "may be armed and presently dangerous. Broadened police powers. -
USA PATRIOT Act
Law enabling the Federal government to hep fight terrorism, it gave the NSA the authority for roving wiretaps, searches of business records, and conduct surveillance of "lone wolves"—individuals suspected of terrorist-related activities not linked to terrorist groups. Section 215 of the law was amended to stop the National Security Agency from continuing its mass phone data collection program since this was found to be unconstitutional. -
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
United States federal statute enacted by President Barack Obama. Together with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act amendment, it represents the most significant regulatory overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. Hospitals and primary physicians would transform their practices financially, technologically, and clinically to drive better health outcomes, lower costs, and improve their methods of distribution and accessibility. -
Period: to
LBJ's Presidency
The Great Society was set of new major spending programs that addressed education, medical care, urban problems, rural poverty, and transportation were launched during this period. The Great Society in scope and sweep resembled the New Deal domestic agenda of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Many programs including Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act and federal education funding, continue to the present.