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Virginia Declaration of Rights
The Declaration of Rights was a constitutional protection of the rights of man. It declared the rights and initial basis of all virginians, and allowed for the influence of later documents. -
Ratification of Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was an agreement between the original thirteen states in the United States which served as the county's first constitution.After it's ratification in 1781, the thirteen states underwent a new constitution and federal government. -
Treaty of Paris (1783)
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens where the five-member commission which negotiated the treaty between The United States and Great Britain. The treaty allowed for an end of the Revolutionary War and recognized America's independence. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
After the end of the Revolutionary War, Great Britain relinquished the Ohio Country to America. Due to problematic claiming status of the land, the Confederation Congress implemented the Ordinance of 1784. This allowed for the land to be divided to ten separate states, establishing the territories which would later become states. -
Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
The Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, created by Thomas Jefferson states that all man has the right to his own religious beliefs and that no man shall suffer under their religious opinions whatsoever. The Bill establishes a separation of religion and state. -
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Shay's Rebellion.
Shay's Rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts. It consisted of 4,000 rebelles known as shaysites which uprised against economical injustice and suspension of civil rights. Shay's rebellion allowed for the return of retired George Washington to take matters into his own hands. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Ordinance of 1787 created a method which chartered a government for the Northwest Territory, provided a method for admitting new states to the Union. It was a response to the westward expansion of Americans, relations with Britain as well as Spain, conflicts with Indians, the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and the debt of the American government. It is sometimes also known as the Freedom Ordinance. -
Constitution Convention
The Constitutional Convention's main purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation. However the intention from the outset of many of its proponents was to create a new government rather than fix the existing one. While some delegates thought this illegal, the Articles of Confederation were closer to a treaty between the states than they were to a national constitution. -
Ratification of Constitution
The Ratification of the Constitution consisted of a revising of The Articles of Confederation. Most of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention approved the documents which have been discussed since May.However, due to the delegates exceeding of authority, congress directed the state legislatures to call ratification conventions in each state. -
George Washington Inauguration
George Washington took oath to become the President of The United States. He promised to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." -
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The French Revolution
The French revolution was due to the unjust treatment of the civilians of France.The Revolution overthrew the French monarchy, created a republic, experienced periods of political tumult, and finally concluded with the dictatorship of Napoleon. The Revolution affected the course of modern history, generating the global decline of monarchies which influenced America and much of Western Europe. -
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Quasi War
America refusing to pay its debts owed to the previous reign of to the French Republic resulted in an undeclared war between the French and America. The French lead a series of timed attacks on American shipping. Retaliation from America allowed for a continuation for about a year. The end of the Quasi War was marked by the signing of the Convention of 1800. -
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Whiskey Rebellion
Farmers opposed the enforcement of a federal law implicating tax on distilled spirits. These farmers were prosecuted for treason due to their rebellion against the imposed tax. -
Treaty of Greenville
The Treaty established a "boundary line" between Native American and American European settlers' lands. It also established grants of federal grants and supplies which influenced tribal affairs. -
Jay Treaty
Treaty between The United States and Great Britain which resolved all unsettled issues between the two countries since the Treaty Of Paris after The Revolutionary War. -
Pinckney Treaty
The Pinckney Treaty established a sort of alliance and friendship between The United States and Spain. It also guaranteed U.S navigation rights on the Mississippi River. -
Washington Farewell
Before the retirement of his second term, Washington delivered a farewell speech to the citizens of the United States. He warns the people in this letter of future political problems and -
Election of 1796
After the refusal of a third term George Washington retired from his position as president.Under the system in place in 1796, electors were to cast votes for two persons. Both votes were for president; the runner-up in the presidential race was elected vice-president. He presented his farewell speech right after. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams then ran for office for the next four year term. The citizens voted on John Adams to be president and Thomas Jefferson, became vice president. -
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XYZ Affair
The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic incident between French and United States diplomats that resulted in a limited, undeclared war known as the Quasi-War.. French leaders decided to issue an order allowing for the seizure of American merchant ships due to problems in the French Revolutionary government. President John Adams dispatched three U.S. envoys to restore harmony between the United States and France. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Bills passed by congress, and signed by President John Adams. They made it more difficult for an immigrant to become a citizen and allowed for the imprisonment and deportation of non-citizens who were deemed dangerous or were from a hostile nation. They also criminalized making false statements that were critical of the federal government. These acts were back by the Federalists argument that they strengthened national security during war. -
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Virginia and Kentucy Resolutions
The Resolutions (1798-1799) (secretly written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison) were political statements that deemed the federal Alien and Sedition Acts as unconstitutional. The resolutions argued that the federal government had the powers granted in the constitution but the states had the right and duty to declare acts of Congress that were not authorized by the Constitution as unconstitutional. They ultimately argued for states' rights and the remediation of the Constitution. -
Election of 1800
Fourth presidential election; resulted in Vice President Thomas Jefferson winning against former President John Adams. The election created a generation of Democratic-Republican Party rule and the subsequent demise of the Federalist Party in the First Party System. The election exposed one of the failings of the original Constitution of the United States. Members of the Electoral College were authorized to vote for two names for President, but by having two votes, it ended in ties.
