Individual Importance (1776-1820) By hhuettel2467 Jan 10, 1776 Thomas Paine Wrote "Common Sense" Jul 4, 1776 Signed Decloration of Independance Jan 1, 1784 Ben Franklin Invented Bifocals no specific date Jan 1, 1787 Ben Franklin the Constitution no Specific date Jan 1, 1787 Oliver Evans invented Automatic Flour Mill no specific date Apr 30, 1789 GW Unanimously Elected as 1st US President Mar 14, 1794 The Cotton Gin was invented by Eli Whitney Mar 4, 1797 John Adams is Elected as 2nd Presedent of the US Period: Mar 4, 1797 to Mar 4, 1801 John Adams Promotes Enlightenment Period Nov 13, 1798 John Adams signs Alien and Sedition Acts