Government Timeline

  • Boston Massacre

    British soldiers fired into crowd, 5 colonists died
  • Intolerable Acts

    Quartering of British troops
  • Declaration of Independence

    Signed by the delegates to the Second Continental Congress
  • Shay's Rebellion

    Massachusetts farmers rebelled over prospect of losing land
  • Northwest Ordinance

    outlined the process for admitting a new state to the Union, and guaranteed that newly created states would be equal to the original thirteen states
  • The Constitutional Convention

    Drafting a new constitution
  • Judiciary Act

    Established a Three-tiered Judicial Structure; 1. District Courts 2. Circuit Courts 3. Supreme Court
  • 1st Amendment

    1st Amendment
    freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition
  • 3rd Amendment

    3rd Amendment
    No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house
  • 4th Amendment

    4th Amendment
    the people have a right “to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.
  • 6th Amendment

    6th Amendment
    right to a public trial without unnecessary
  • 7th Amendment

    7th Amendment
    right to a jury trial in certain civil cases
  • 8th Amendment

    8th Amendment
    “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
  • 9th Amendment

    9th Amendment
    the people retain rights absent specific enumeration
  • 10th Amendment

    10th Amendment
    The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively
  • 2nd Amendment

    2nd Amendment
    the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed
  • 5th Amendment

    5th Amendment
    No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury
  • 11th Amendment

    11th Amendment
    prohibits the federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits against states
  • Marbury vs. Madison

    Power of judicial review
  • 12th Amendment

    12th Amendment
    each elector must cast distinct votes for president and vice president, instead of two votes for president
  • Morrill Act

    Granted large tracts of land to states; states solid land and used the money for colleges.
  • 13th Amendment

    13th Amendment
    Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude
  • 14th Amendment

    14th Amendment
    equal protection of the laws
  • 15th Amendment

    15th Amendment
    The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States
  • Chinese Exclusion Act

    Ended Chinese immigration to the US
  • 16th Amendment

    16th Amendment
    The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes.. in other words the government will take your money
  • 17th Amendment

    17th Amendment
    elected by the people thereof.
  • 18th Amendment

    18th Amendment
    production, transport, and sale of intoxicating liquors illegal
  • Radio

    Radio became the first form of electronic media
  • 19th Amendment

    19th Amendment
    The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged
  • Native Americans

    Granted citizenship in 1924
  • Dual Federalism

    1789-1930s. Both state and national governments were equal governments were equal authorities operating within their own spheres of influence
  • 20th Amendment

    20th Amendment
    Moved the beginning and ending of the terms of the president and vice president from March 4 to January 20, and of members of Congress from March 4 to January 3.
  • 21st Amendment

    21st Amendment
    The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
  • United States v. Miller

    Ruled 2nd Amendment does not protect the right to have all types of weapons
  • U.S. v. Darby

    Upheld Fair Labor Standards Act, Commerce Clause allows Congress to regulate employment conditions
  • Korematsu v the United States

    Upheld involuntary internment of ethnically Japanese American citizens
  • National Security Council

    Coordinates national security policy
  • 22nd Amendment

    22nd Amendment
    No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice
  • Hernandez v Texas

    The first and only Mexican-American civil rights case heard and decided by the United States Supreme Court
  • Brown v Board

    Ruled segregation us illegal, "Separate is inherently unequal"
  • Period: to

    Creative Federalism

    Released national funds to achieve national goals
  • 23rd Amendment

    23rd Amendment
    Allows American citizens residing in the District of Columbia to vote for presidential electors
  • Edwards v. South Carolina

    Edwards v. South Carolina
    187 African-Americans students gathered at the state capitol to protest racial injustice.
  • Equal Pay Act

    Equal Pay Act
    Established equal pay for men and women
  • Great Society

    Great Society
    Government program to eliminate poverty and social inequality
  • Civil Rights Act

    Civil Rights Act
    Outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin
  • 24th Amendment

    24th Amendment
    Citizens in some states had to pay a fee to vote in a national election.
  • Miranda v. Arizona

    Miranda v. Arizona
    Expanded rights of the people accused of crimes, "Miranda Rights"
  • Loving v. Virginia

    Struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage
  • 25th Amendment

    25th Amendment
    Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
  • Tinker v Des Moines

    Ruled that schools couldn't prevent students from protesting the Vietnam War
  • 26th Amendment

    26th Amendment
    Prohibits the denial of the right of US citizens eighteen years of age or older to vote on account of age
  • War Power Resolution

    President must consult with Congress before sending troops
  • New Federalism

    Returned some authority to state governments
  • 27th Amendment

    27th Amendment
    Delays laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election of representatives
  • Issues in Federalism todays

    congress gave states authority to manage welfare systems with block grants
  • D.C v. Heller

    Ruled the 2nd Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms for self-defense
  • Obergefell v. Hodges

    Ruled states must grant and recognize same sex-marriage
  • Trump vs Hawaii

    Court ruled a ban on immigration from majority-Muslim countries did not violate the Establishment Clause
  • McDonald v Chicago

    Ruled 2nd Amendment applies to federal, state, and local governments; upheld 2nd Amendment