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This large timespan covers the basic ideologies of our government, as well as how we as Americans used these ideologies to create the government we know today. It will feature major events, laws, court cases, and etc., that shaped the USA as it is known today.
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In 1215, following a massive standoff with his serfs, servants, and disgruntled retainers. King John signed the infamous Magna Carta document into English law. This document was a consistent baseline for how the US government was built to run. -
In 1636, the official Pilgrims Code of Law was established by the Puritans in Plymouth colony. This code would serve as one of many foundational inspirations for the modern-day government. -
On July 4, 1776. The United States of America was born through the signing of this momentous document. This document served as the universal message to the world that the USA was forming its own government outside of British rule entirely. Shortly after this, the Revolutionary War was launched. -
On September 26th, 1778, the Continental Congress reorganized the structure of the treasury system. Adding an Auditor, Office of Comptroller, Office of Treasurer, and two Chambers of Accounts. -
On June 11th, 1776, the Second Continental Congress established the committees and delegates that would make up the confederation government. It would take until March 1st, 1781, for the articles to be unanimously ratified. -
"We the People" created the Constitution of the USA in 1787. Since its creation, it has been the supreme law of the entire nation. -
On May 1st, 1788, a massive 85-essay composition made by leaders of the Federalist movement was published to the public. These documents sparked massive debate and division, beginning the construction of political parties in the US. -
During this time span, the primary political party in control of US politics was the Federalist Party. It was also characterized by a strong, centralized US Government. This era lasted from the adoption of the Constitution in 1789, until the election of Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson in 1801.
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On September 24th, 1789, the Federal Judiciary Act was officially signed into law. This act laid the groundwork for basic federal court jurisdiction and established the main foundation for today's court systems. -
On March 3rd, 1791, the first system of internal taxation was established in America. It put a government-enforced fee on liquors and was initially called the "Whiskey Tax." -
On December 15th, 1791, the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution were officially ratified by the states. These were collectively dubbed the "Bill of Rights" and highlight the basic, inalienable rights of American citizens. -
On March 4th, 1794, Congress officially passed the 11th Amendment to the Constitution. The Amendment was put forth as a result of the judicial debacle behind Chisholm v. Georgia. -
On September 19th, 1796. George Washington delivered his 32-page farewell address. In it, Washington condemned the sprouting political parties and encouraged the country to remain unified. -
In June and July of 1798, under President John Adams, Congress passed the Alien and Sedition acts. These acts sparked intense backlash and laid the groundwork for debate on foreign policy for years to come. -
From 1801 to 1861, US politics were dominated by the Democratic-Republican, and the succeeding Democratic Party. This put conservative policy at the forefront of the country.
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In one of his first acts as President, Thomas Jefferson made a massive trade deal with the French. More than doubling the size of the US. -
One of the most influential Supreme Court cases in American history. On February 24th, 1803, the SCOTUS ruled in favor of James Madison, establishing the now-prevalent principle of Judicial Review. -
A landmark SCOTUS case, in which the jurisdiction of the case was up in the air. The Supreme Court ruled that they had jurisdiction to overrule state court rulings. -
A major SCOTUS case, the court ruled in favor of McCullough unanimously. Solidifying the policy of implied powers in Congress. -
In 1820, Congress enacted the Missouri Compromise. Which aimed to balance the interests of Northern and Southern states concerning slavery. -
In 1823, then-President James Monroe issued a sharp warning to European nations not to colonize or get involved in Western affairs. This constructed the policy of isolationism. -
In 1834, SCOTUS ruled in a landmark case that Congress held the power to regulate commerce. Reinforcing the ruling with the Supremacy Clause. -
Another major SCOTUS ruling, which condoned workers' bargaining with their employers. Laid the groundwork for worker unions and strikes. -
On June 15th, 1846, then-President James K. Polk signed a massive treaty with Great Britain. Gaining the territory that would become Oregon in the modern day. -
In 1848, The US went to war with Mexico over major southwestern territory. The war ended the same year with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
In 1849, the US government established the Department of the Interior. With the goal of increasing conservation efforts and protecting natural resources. -
In 1850 over the span of a few months, a massive legislation package was passed through Congress. This set of legislation was targeted towards the balance of free state and slave state territory shortly following the Mexican-American war. -
Over the course of about a year, Dred Scott attempted to fight for his freedom in landmark court cases. Unfortunately, SCOTUS ruled against him, making decisions that ultimately were considered major sparkers of the Civil war. -
In 1860, the government established the US Government Printing Office. The source for all of its major publications. -
In 1861, Abraham Lincoln, a rising Republican, was elected President. Resulting in a massive secession effort by states in the South. This, as well as slavery disagreements, was the main cause behind the Civil war. -
From 1861 to 1933, US Politics were dominated by the Republican Party. This placed socially liberal and economically conservative policy at the forefront.
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The biggest and most deadly civil war in American History. Began with the battle of Fort Sumter in 1861. Ended in 1865 with the official surrender of Robert E. Lee.
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In 1862, the US government established the department of Agriculture. This government agency has provided significant support in protection of the environment. -
On May 20th, 1862, Abraham Lincoln approved the Homestead Act. Which allowed citizens to acquire up to 160 acres of land they farmed on for five years. -
The First Medals of Honor were established on July 12th, 1862, for seamen, marines and soldiers that had displayed unmatched bravery in combat. -
On January 1st, 1863, Abraham Lincoln established the Emancipation Proclamation. Bestowing freedom to all enslaved persons in the Confederate States of America. -
On February 23rd, 1863, the OCC was established with the National Banking Association. It also allowed Nationally chartered banks. -
On March 3rd, 1865. The government established the Freedmen's Bureau. It became the first government agency responsible for the public aid of African Americans. -
On December 6th, 1865, the 13th Amendment was ratified to the US Constitution. This officially abolished slavery and indentured servitude. -
On April 9th, 1866, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was placed into effect. This act reinforced the citizenship of African Americans in the US. -
On March 30th, 1867, the US signed to buy the Alaska territory for 7.2 million dollars from the Russian Empire. -
On March 4th, 1868, articles of impeachment were brought forth against then-president Andrew Johnson. Johnson barely escaped with his Presidency intact, surviving the conviction vote by only one vote. -
On July 9th, 1868, the government ratified the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. This established the modern concept of equal protection under the law. -
On February 3rd, 1870, the government ratified the 15th Amendment to the Constitution. It aimed to secure the rights of African American men after the Civil War. -
In 1870, the government established the Department of Justice. It was established to ensure the law remained upheld within the country. -
This landmark SCOTUS case occurred in 1876. The ruling, in favor of Henderson, established Federal immigration admission control. -
On May 6th, 1882, the US suspended all immigration from China. Not allowing any immigrants from Chinese borders for a decade. -
In 1890, the US outlawed monopolistic practices that harmed customers and other companies in the market economy. -
In 1913, the US ratified the 16th Amendment to the Constitution. Mandating an income tax nationwide. -
On December 23rd, 1913, the government established the federal reserve system. This system provided a centralized, more efficient banking system for the growing economy. -
On June 28th, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed. Officially putting an end to WWI. -
On August 18th, 1920, the government ratified the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Giving women the right to vote after decades of suffrage. -
On October 24th, 1929, a day now known as Black Thursday, the US Stock Market crashed as nearly 10,000 major banks failed rapidly. Launching the US into The Great Depression, which lasted until 1939 when the economy fully recovered.
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From 1933 to 1953, politics were dominated by the Democratic Party. Who were socially conservative and economically progressive.
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On September 1st, 1939, the bloodiest war in human history began, claiming between 70-85 million lives before ending on September 2nd, 1945, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
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On June 5th, 1948, Secretary of State George C. Marshall proposed a program of massive aid to help Europe rebuild post-WWII. -
Today, politics are dominated by both major parties. Primarily, more polarizing figures rule the day in the government than pure politicians.
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On July 2nd, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law. Outlawing discrimination of any kind against color, sex, race, or national origin. -
On August 6th, 1965, LBJ signed the Voting Rights act into law, prohibiting discrimination at the polls. -
In 1973, the War Powers Act was passed into law. Ensuring that the President can only declare war if Congress sends a declaration forth. -
One of the most horrible terror attacks in world history. One that destroyed the heart of the World Trade Center and claimed thousands of lives in New York. -
A major economic downturn from December 2007 to June 2009. This economic debacle saw the housing and real estate market collapse dramatically.
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On November 4th, 2008, history was made. For the first time in US History, a black man was elected President of the United States. As Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain to win the Presidency. -
In 2011, the US Special Forces launched an operation that successfully found and killed Osama Bin Laden. The mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. -
In 2013, Black Lives Matter, the world's most prevalent activist group against racism, was formed. This group opposed police brutality and oppression, placing an emphasis on social justice in government. -
On December 18th, 2019, the House of Representatives impeached Donald Trump on high crimes and misdemeanors, although his presidency did survive. -
On March 11th, 2020, the COVID-19 Virus was declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. The Pandemic was lifted on May 5th, 2023.
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On May 25th, 2020, George Floyd, a African American man living in Minneapolis, was murdered in a devastating act of police brutality committed by Derek Chauvin. Chauvin infamously knelt on Floyd's neck for over 9 minutes. This sent the nation into an outrage and had a heavy influence on the next election. -
13 years after his election as Vice President alongside Barack Obama, on November 3rd, 2021, Joe Biden was elected as President of the United States. Making history, as his running mate, Kamala Harris, became the first female Vice President in American history. -
Following his loss in the 2020 Presidential Election, Donald Trump found himself impeached by the House of Representatives a second time. This time for supposedly orchestrating a massive riot that had occurred days earlier at the White House and claimed several security personnel's lives. -
On November 5th, 2024, Donald Trump was reelected to office alongside JD Vance, defeating Democrats Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. This made him the second President ever to be reelected non-consecutively (The First being Democrat Grover Cleveland)