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Articles of Confederation ratified
The Articles of Confederation were an agreement between the original 13 states that essentially established the United States of America. The articles were centered around the power of the states and what they had the ability to do. The federal government derived its power from the state government, and this system failed after 8 years. -
The 10th Amendment
The tenth amendment of the constitution which included the Bill of Rights was ratified. It gave protection to citizens with individual liberties and listed specific limits on the power of the government. A large part of the conflict between Federalists and Anti-Federalists was the constitutions lack of limits to government power. This aimed to solve them. -
Fletcher v. Peck
Fletcher v. peck was a court case and focused on a land dispute between two men. This court case is so important because of the decision of the supreme court to invalidate the state of Georgia's rights. They deemed them unconstitutional and made the decision on who would receive the land themselves. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This case took place in 1896 and focused on an African american man who sat in the white section of a railroad car. This was against the separate but equal laws that the state upheld. Plessy however argued that violated the 13th and 14th amendment but the supreme court overruled it. This increased state powers as it was the state who had the final say in the decision. -
The 16th Amendment
On this date the 16th amendment was ratified. It stated that Congress was put forth an income tax without the states approval, even though it was a direct tax. This amendment was extremely controversial and rightly so, as it was the first exemption from the taxing rule. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act outlawed discrimination against racial, ethnic, national, and religious minorities in the U.S. It also outlawed discrimination against women. Voter registration requirements were also abolished. This gave the federal government more power as it was an act that was put forth that the states had to follow. -
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade was a supreme court case focused on the rights of a woman to have an abortion as they choose. The Texas government restricted women from having an abortion unless it threatened their life. Eventually the federal government allowed women to have the final say in the first trimester, and the states could interfere in the 2nd or 3rd unless it jeopardized the life of the mother. -
The Affordable Care Act
The affordable care act requires individuals to have health insurance through their employment or by purchasing it through the market. The government makes the argument that health care falls under commerce because it effects national problems. The opponents of the act say that this leads Congress to have power to intrude on individual freedom. -
September 11th, 2001: 9/11
After the terrorist attack on our country on September 11th, 2001, the culture of Islam became our "enemies." The nation came together and the federal government began the war on terrorism. Wars began and conflict started as the government began to focus on terror attacks.
