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George Washington's Presidency
Washington set many key precedents such as selecting a Cabinet, giving a farewell address, or serving for a max of two terms. -
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John Adams Presidency
John Adams was the last Federalist president, and was known for rocky foreign relations with France that led to the Alien and Sedition Acts. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
In order to keep French immigrants out and limit criticism of the government, Congress pased the Alien and Sedition Acts, which President John Adams signed. -
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John Marshall as Supreme Court Justice
John Marshall was the most significant and influential early Supreme Court Justice, greatly expanding the role of the Supreme Court, as well as promoting the views of the Federalist party. -
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Thomas Jefferson's Presidency
Thomas Jefferson's presidency was known Jefferson going against his own beliefs in the Louisiana Purchase, shrinking the size of the government and leading into foreign conflicts with Britain ultimately leading to the War of 1812. -
Marbury v. Madison
John Marshall's first important decision in the Supreme Court granted the court the power of Judicial Review, or the ability to decide whether actions of ther two branches of the Constitution are legal. -
Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, doubling the size of the country. -
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War of 1812
USA goes to war with Britain over impressment at sea and control of the Midwest. The war ends in an armistice, neither side declaring victory or defeat. -
Adams-Onis Treaty (Florida)
Spain agrees to sell Florida to Secretary of State John Quincy Adams of the United States, increasing the size of the US and continuing to fuel Nationalism and Expansion. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Decision by John Marshall that prohibits states from passing laws that contradict federal laws. Clearly establishes federal power above that of states. -
Missouri Compromise
Congress, led by Henry Clay maintains the free state-slave state balance by adding Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, and setting a boundry that all future states below the 36'30" line (Missouri's southern border) will be slave states, all above, free. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
SCOTUS led by John Marshall, establishes that interstate commerce is governed by the federal government, not the states between which the commerce takes place. It also prohibits monopolies using public property- ie a private citizen cannot own a part of major interstate river. -
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Andrew Jackson's Presidency
Andrew Jackson is known as the first modern president for his direct campaign strategies, but also know for greatly expanding the power of the president. Jackson battled with the Cherokee over land, eventually leading to the Trail of Tears. He also used the military to force South Carolina to conform to national beliefs and fought the National Bank, leading to the Panic of 1837. -
Indian Removal Act
Congress, coerced by Andrew Jackson, grants the president the ability to force Native American relocation. This event led to the Trail of Tears -
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The Trail of Tears
Name given to the forced relocation of many Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Chickasaw, Muscogee, from their homelands to the great plains region. Over 10,000 Native Americans died in this trek. -
Texas Independence
Texas resists Mexico, and becomes its own independent country. -
Panic of 1837
Banks begin refusing paper money, which led to an economic crash and recession that extended into the 1840s. This crash came as a result of Andrew Jackson's decision to destroy the National Bank. -
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James Polk's Presidency
James Polk was known for pushing the USA west via a war with Mexico that ultimately led to the US gaining most of the southwest -
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Mexican American War
A dispute over the border of Texas resulted in a war between Mexico and the United States, which the US won. Mexico gave most of the American Southwest, including California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo -
California Gold Rush begins
Gold is first discovered in California, leading to a mass migration known as the California Gold Rush. This ultimately gives California enough people to declare statehood, leading the US to another difficult decision about slavery.