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The Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, were the first major military actions between the British Army and Patriot militias from British America's Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War.
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The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence occurred primarily on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia.
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The winter at Valley Forge was the 1777-1778 encampment of George Washington's Continental Army, where the soldiers faced extreme hardship due to a lack of supplies, shelter, and food, leading to widespread disease and death. Despite the suffering, the army was transformed under the training of Baron von Steuben and the leadership of Washington, emerging from the winter as a more professional and disciplined fighting force.
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The Articles of Confederation were ratified on March 1, 1781, when the final state, Maryland, gave its approval. Adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, the Articles required unanimous ratification by all 13 states, which was a process that took over three years to complete
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The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown and the surrender at Yorktown, was the final major land engagement of the American Revolutionary War.
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The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, officially ended the American Revolutionary War by formally recognizing the independence of the United States and establishing the new nation's boundaries. Key provisions included the British withdrawal of troops, U.S. access to the Mississippi River, and fishing rights in Newfoundland, while the U.S. agreed to recommend fair treatment of Loyalists and not impede British creditors from collecting debts.
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On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, which was the required number to put the new government into effect. This event made the Constitution the official framework of the U.S. government, although other states, including Virginia and New York, would continue to ratify over the following months.
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George Washington's first inauguration on April 30, 1789, took place on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, where Robert Livingston, Chancellor of New York, administered the oath of office. Following the oath, Washington delivered his first inaugural address inside the Senate Chamber, and the day concluded with divine services at St. Paul's Chapel and a fireworks display.
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On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified when Virginia became the 11th state to approve the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. This ratification fulfilled the requirement for three-fourths of the states to approve the amendments, officially making them part of the Constitution and protecting fundamental individual rights and freedoms.
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The Whiskey Rebellion was an uprising from 1791 to 1794, sparked by a federal excise tax on distilled spirits that disproportionately impacted western farmers. The event was a crucial test of the new federal government's authority and contributed to the formation of political parties, with figures like Thomas Jefferson criticizing the use of military force.
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George Washington's 1796 Farewell Address was a public letter warning of three major threats to the new nation: political partisanship, sectionalism, and foreign entanglements. He urged Americans to remain united and cautioned against the "baneful effects of the spirit of party" and the dangers of permanent alliances with other countries. The address also established a precedent for a two-term presidency, as Washington announced his decision to retire after two terms
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George Washington died at his Mount Vernon home on December 14, 1799, from a throat infection after riding in wet, snowy weather a couple of days earlier. His death was rapid, and his final words were spoken to his secretary, Tobias Lear, as he reflected on his imminent passing.
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On November 4, 1800, states were in the midst of choosing their presidential electors as part of the United States presidential election of 1800, which took place over several weeks. There was no single, nationwide Election Day as there is today; instead, voting occurred in various states from October 31 to December 3, 1800.
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Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137, was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that established the principle of judicial review, meaning that American courts have the power to strike down laws and statutes they find to violate the Constitution of the United States.