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Virginia Declaration of Rights
This was a document drafted in 1776 that included the rights of man and how they were free of an incompetent government. It was written by George Mason and it protected a man's rights. This was important because it discussed what type of man is allowed to have such privileges and excluded those who did not fit the description of a man with such liberties. It also created the liberties that are seen in our Constitution today and inspired the Bill of RIghts. -
Ratification of Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress,mainly the committee that was assigned to draft the Articles of Confederation,developed this first constitution that put the states rights first and gave Congress little power to do certain duties such as tax or coin money.It was important because the problems that came with it proved to the American people that the states were unsuitable to handle themselves and a strong, central government was needed. -
Treaty of Paris
It was a treaty designed to represent the end of the Revolutionary War and set up negotiations between America and Great Britain.John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens were apart of the committee that created and negotiated the treaty It was important because it let the U.S move on to be a country of its own and almost structured it as a country and created American independence and nationalism. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
This was a mechanism that Congress utilized in order to raise revenue because they couldn't directly tax the American people and was one of the best outcomes of the Articles of Confederation. They sold land in the unsettled west. This was important because it set up the precedent by which the land is going to be divided up and sold. -
Bill for establishing religious freedom
Jefferson created this bill because he was an avid religious freedom advocate and it revoked the Church of England in Virginia . Moreover, this bill created the infamous wall of separation between church and state. This bill was important because it ended the incompetency of a government ruled by religion and promoted religious freedom. -
Northwest Ordinance
As well as it being one of the helpful outcomes of the Treaty of Paris, the Northwest Ordinance was a law passed by Congress in 1787 to provide for government of the Northwest Territory, located north of the Ohio River.Settlers were allowed to settle and create new towns . This law was important because it established a orderly system of distributing land and selling it in the Northwest Territory and this ordinance will be of use for years ahead. -
Shay's Rebellion
This rebellion was led by the veteran, Daniel Shays, and was the result of angered farmers that loathed the high taxes and growing debt. However, they were crushed by Washington's militia and it was ended in 1787 . This, in all, was important because it showed leaders that they need a stronger, central government in order to stop these types of incidents from occurring. -
Constitution Convention
This convention included delegates from the states that discussed the much needed improvements for the Articles of Confederation.George Washington was the chair and it was conducted in secrecy. This was important because it resulted in the methods of how states were going to be represented( Great Compromise), how slaves were going to be counted (Three-Fifths Compromise), how trade was going to be set up ( Commercial Compromise), and the number of terms. -
Constitution Ratification
The ratification needed 9 out of 13 states to be on board with the Constitution. In order to get that number, the committee added the Bill of Rights.New Hampshire was the last state to ratify the Constitution. It was important because the ratification of the Constitution created and empowered the federal government and it also created this hope that the America would get it right this time after the failure of Articles of Confederation. -
George Washington's Inauguration
Washington took the oath to be the first president of America and embarked the beginning of an era in history. within his inaugural address, he called for a strong federal government and stressed the importance of Bill of Rights. His inauguration was important because afterwards he would go on to create the precedent of foreign policy and politics in America for years to come. -
French Revolution
The French Revolution caused an uprising on American soil with supporters for the revolution trying to concur up soldiers so they may be sent to aid the radicals in France. France sent a minister to the states, Edmond-Charles Genêt, whose actions involved the two countries in the Citizen Genêt Affair.Many french refugees settled in American cities and was in full support of America getting involved. It was important because it forced America into a precise and clear policy of neutrality -
Whiskey Rebellion
This rebellion started with the refusal of a group of farmer living in Western Pennsylvania to pay a tax on whiskey. One long term result was the repeal of this certain tax.This forced President Washington to lead the militia that was in charged of the stopping the rebels. This was important because the inclusion of 13000 militia members showed citizens that the central government was one force not to be messed with and showed their immense power. -
Jay Treaty
It treaty between the United States and Great Britain that was designed to prevent any further conflict between the two since America was still an infant nation. It rested and disputes of land, trade or debts between the two. It was in Washington's best interest to make this treaty and it was designed by Hamilton who was all for the president's decision. This was important because it did intensify criticism of Washington and create factions within the country. -
Treaty of Greenville
In 1994, General Anthony Wayne commanded and American army to defeat an America Indian force. This led to this treaty in which both sides decided they would relinquish their claims on land in order for peace. America did give goods to the Indian nations for agreeing to this treaty.This was important because although it kept peace for sometime it did create hostility between these two parties for years to come as the Indians try to gain back their lost land. -
Pinckney Treaty
Signed in 1795, this treaty with Spain recognized U.S. borders at the Mississippi and the 31st parallel .This treaty was mainly brought from the fear of America and Britain allying in the future.It was important because it opened up the Mississippi river which an increase in trade and created a friendship between the countries. -
Washington Farewell
After serving two terms, Washington decides to leave but not without a few words of advice. Madison and Hamilton aided him in the writing of two drafts. He stated that America should remain neutral, avoid factions, sectionalism, and permanent alliances. This was sudden choice of departure led to the first ever election in 1796 and created the precedent in which the next president will preside in. -
Election of 1796
The election of 1796 was the first in which voters could choose which political party, either Federalists or Republicans, did their views align with. This led to Adams winning the electoral votes over Jefferson It was important because it showed whether citizens could be responsible enough to handle such a form of government in which they have the sovereign power and if they can transfer it into an election. -
XYZ affair
John Adams sent three american officials to make peace with France after they started to seize American ships, damaging their shipping. However, they were met with three french officials (X,Y,Z) who demanded 250,000 in order for them to meet with the French foreign minister. In return, Adams built up the army and navy which led to the French letting down their negotiations. This was important because it showed other countries that US wasn't a country to be messed with. -
Alien and Sedition Act
.This act was signed by John Adams and included four bills that basically stated that if anyone spoke out against the government they can be thrown in jail and also made life in America hard for immigrants. At first, this was made in order to stop the French foreign threat with the states and repress any forms of protests regarding the government's inaction in the French Revolution. It was significant because it granted the government to silence our given power of freedom of speech. -
Quasi War
This was an undeclared war fought st sea between the United States and France from 1798 to 1800. After the XYZ affair, Adams decided to built up his army but did not declare war with Congress yet. Initially, the U.S. Navy began to fight the French in the Caribbeans.However, Talleyrand did not want any major war to erupt, as did Adams, so negotiations were met, a treaty was made and that was the end. This was important because it showed the french the power of our new nation. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolution
They were political statements created by Madison and Jefferson and were passed by the legislatures of Kentucky and Virginia.It that declared the state legislatures could deem acts of Congress unconstitutional on the theory that states' rights superseded federal rights. It was important because it showed that the Alien and Sedition Act was unconstitutional and stood by freedom of speech -
Election of 1800
This was the election in which Jefferson beat Adams. One cause of this rule would be the deterioration of the Federalists Party.This election was a peaceful transfer of power One mishap was that each elector who voted for Jefferson also voted for Burr,which resulted in a tie. The house of representatives then chose Jefferson on the 36th ballot. It was important because it generated the era of Democratic-Republican rule.
