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Newburgh Conspiracy
An anonymous letter went around the army camp at Newburgh, New York suggesting that the soldiers would take action of they were not payed. It was most likely written by Major John Armstrong. -
Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783
400 soldiers of the Continental Army protested anti- government. The Executive Council of Pennsylvania refused to stop it, which caused the to Congress leave Philadelphia and to create a national capital or Federal District. -
End of Revolutionary War
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The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the war between United States of America and Great Britain.The treaty was generous in giving large boundaries to America. -
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The Critical Time Period in American History
The "Make it or break it" point of time for America's Government. -
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Economic Depression
Economic Depression occurred due to the Revolutionary War. To raise revenue, states imposed charges on goods from other states. The Dutch and French only lent money with very high interest rates. A shortage of currency made it difficult to conduct business. Southern planters lost about 60,000 slaves during the Revolution and British trade regulations restricted the British West Indies from buying American goods which hurt the South. This showed that the Articles of Confederation was not enough. -
Spain Closes Mississippi River to America
Bernardo de Gálvez announced that Spain would be the only country allowed to navigate the Mississippi River. -
Beginning of the China Trade
An American Ship "Empress of China" sailed from New York and arrived in Canton, China. The ship returned with exotic goods, like silks and tea. This made many American merchants interested and to join in the China Trade. -
Land Ordinance 1785
Congress passed the Land Ordinance of 1785 which divided the northwest territories into townships of 6 square miles. They were subdivided into 36 lots of 640 acres. Each 650 acre lot was more than $650. The money from this was to go to paying debts British and to finance government. -
Shay's Rebellion
Armed uprising by Daniel Shay because of problems between farmers and debt collectors and farms going bankrupt. These financial difficulties were brought on by the post-war economic depresssion. -
United States Mint
Congress creates the Unites States Mint. -
Constitutional Convention
In the state house in Philadelphia, 29 delegates from nine states present 73 delegates have been chosen by the states but only 55 attended. 21 veterans of the Revolutionary War and 8 signers of the Declaration of Independence were present. The delegates were farmers, merchants, lawyers and bankers. The first thing voted on is to keep the proceedings secret. George Washington is later voted as President of the Constitutional Convention. -
Three Branch Government
Instead of revising the Articles of Confederation, delegates at the Constitutional Convention voted to create a new national government of three branches. This would protect against tyranny and even out the power of government. -
Delaware Ratification
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution. -
Northwest Ordinance
Northwest Territory could technically apply for statehood becuase it had 60,000 people living in it. This was controversial because the oldest states had to work hard for their statehood and "new" states could easily get it and have equal say in gevernment. Slavery was banned in the territory as an effort eliminate it by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. -
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Federalist Papers
ederalist Papers
Print this page 1787 - 1788
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay write 85 essays to a New York newspaper to try and persuade people to approve the Constitution. -
10th Federalist Paper
A paper written by James Madison under his pen name "Publius." Madison warnes about "Factions" and their ability to tear the nation apart. He believes that a well constructed union can stop violence. He says factions are inevitable and and there are two ways to control them which are to remove the cause or control the effect. -
Federalist No. 51
The 51st Federalist Paper written by James Madison as a pen name "Publius." The purpose of this paper was to inform readers about the maintenance of the separate branches of government in order to protect the rights of people and states. -
Inauguration of President George Washington
At New York's Federal Hall, George Washington is sworn in as the first President of the United States. -
The Bill of Rights
Congress writes 12 constitutional amendments to the states for ratification. The first ten were added in 1791 as the Bill of Rights. -
Rhode Island Ratification
The thirteenth and final of the orignal thirteen states to ratify the Constitution. It's ratification message consisted of a bill of rights and several proposed amendments.
