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Virginia Declaration of Rights
This document was adopted by the Virginia legislature at Williamsburg June 12, 1776 and was drafted by George Mason as a statement of the intrinsic rights of man. This resolution influenced similar legislative action in other states, and the content of the national Bill of Rights. (Textbook) -
Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
This resolve was introduced to the Virginia assembly in 1779 by Thomas Jefferson, and provided for the disestablishment of the church of England in Virginia and guaranteed religious freedom to those of all faiths. This bill influenced important features of the 1st amendment, including the establishment and free exercise clause. (History.com) -
The Ratification of the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation refers to the first written government of the United States, formally adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777 and applied by 1781 after ratification by the legislatures of all thirteen colonies. Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson, and Silas Deane contributed influential drafts, and the final document represented the beginning of formal federal self-government in America. (History.com) -
Treaty of Paris (1783)
The 1783 Treaty of Paris refers to multiple separate treaties signed at Versailles September 3rd between the United States, France, Spain, and Britain through Benjamin Franklin and John Jay. The treaty is generally significant because it represents the official end of the Revolutionary war and beginning of American independence, and specifically because New England fishing rights were given to America, America was allowed Mississippi access, and Loyalist property was returned.textbook -
Land Ordinance of 1785
This resolution was adopted by the United States Congress of the Confederation on May 20, 1785 through a committee including Jefferson and Howell that allowed for the survey and sale of Western lands by township. This established a standardized system of land purchase and a major source of congressional revenue. (textbook) -
Shays' Rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion refers to a series of revolts 1786-87 in Springfield, Massachusetts led by Daniel Shay in response to the perceived civil and economic injustice of aggressive tax, evictions, and extensive debt. This event is significant in that it supported a strengthened national government and constitution to prevent rebellion. (History.com) -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
This resolution is significant in that it provided official government for the Northwest Territory July 13 1787, establishing five states, prohibiting slavery, replacing self-government with an appointed governor and judges, and selecting St. Clair as first governor. This allowed “national interest to be imposed on the localistic West” and extended conflict between state and federal interest. (Library of Congress) -
Constitutional Convention
The convention occurred in 1787, in Philadelphia, from an earlier agreement at the Annapolis convention to revise the Articles of Confederation. Madison, Hamilton, and Washington were involved, and through them our constitution and bicameral legislature were introduced. (textbook) -
Ratification of the Constitution
Ratification of the constitution between 1787 and 1790 occurred through state conventions and required the agreement of nine states for the constitution to be adopted. Antifederalists, such as George Mason, and Federalists, such as Hamilton, organized opposition and support respectively primarily through newspaper publications. Ratification introduced organized American federal government able to tax, establish uniform currency, regulate trade, and manage foreign affairs. (textbook) -
George Washington Inauguration
April 30th, 1789 in New York City, Washington was inaugurated as the first president given his military leadership and popular support. Washington in his first inaugural address references a “sacred fire of liberty” and “Republican model of government”, through which his two terms as president established precedents in term limit, cabinet, and general policy of neutrality. (History.com) -
The French Revolution
The 1789 French Revolution influenced American policy and politics, through the division of parties into Federalist pro-British and Republican pro-French, first applications of the neutrality policy, and development of the Alien and Sedition acts. Conflicts would eventually devolve into the Quasi-war and XYZ affair, indicating a transition in French-American relations from that of mutual support to opposition, by neutrality then military conflict. (history.gov) -
Whiskey Rebellion
This 1791-1794 tax protest in Pennsylvania was directed at the Hamiltonian whiskey excise to generate revenue and lessen the national debt. This incident evinced the increasing authority of the central government in suppression of the rebellion by Washington, and was initially a result of lack of federal support for frontier communities, calls of local taxation without federal representation, and the function of the tax as a regressive income tax where whiskey was currency. textbook -
Greenville Treaty
This agreement was signed August 3, 1795 in Ohio between Wayne, representing the United states, and the Native American Western Confederacy. The Greenville treaty line dictated a ignored territory boundary between Europeans and Native Americans and the “annuity” system, foreshadowing American expansionism in the Northwest and institutionalizing federal control of Native American communities. (history.com) -
Pinckney Treaty
This treaty was signed in San Lorenzo 1795 between Spain and the United States through Pinckney and Godoy, introducing “intentions of friendship” between the two nations. This agreement defined the boundaries of the US and guaranteed Mississippi navigation rights, significant for American commerce and expansion into the Southwest. (History.com) -
Jay Treaty
This treaty was ratified in 1796, after negotiation in 1794 by Jay and Grenville. The agreement was highly unpopular and increased partisan divisions but averted war between the United States and Britain, commercially established Britain as a US most favored nation, and ensured the withdrawal of British forces from the Northwest. (History.com) -
Washington Farewell Address
The Farewell Address was drafted by Madison and Hamilton to be published September 19, 1796, and announced decline of a third presidential term by Washington which would become presidential precedent. Within the address Washington argued against factionalism and partisanship, defends separation of powers, and encourages neutrality in foreign relations. (textbook) -
1796 Election
This election, decided December 7, 1796 for president Adams and vice president Jefferson, and represented the first contested election between the Federalist and Republican party. The election introduced the first party system and campaigns, further heightening sectional and partisan division. (Library of Congress) -
XYZ Affair
The XYZ affair was a 1797 diplomatic incident in which French diplomats referred to as “X, Y, and Z” demanded a bribe from American diplomats Gerry, Marshall, and Pinckney before negotiations regarding French-American conflict could begin. This event led to the Quasi-war, indicated America was a legitimate international diplomatic entity, and increased Federalist-Republican division. (History.com) -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The acts consisted of four bills introduced by Adams in 1798, restricting citizenship by naturalization, permitting presidential deportation and imprisonment of “dangerous aliens”, and illegalizing false statements critical of the government. These acts were developed in response to conflict with France and vocal Republican voting opposition, significant in their violation of the First amendment and contribution to the increasing popularity of Jefferson as a presidential candidate. (textbook) -
Quasi-war
This undeclared war between America and France began 1798 from refusal of the Adams administration to pay debt to the government of the French Republic, seizure of American ships by French, and XYZ affair conflict. The Quasi-war was significant in the application of neutrality doctrine, and increased Atlantic presence of America. (textbook) -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
These resolves, drafted 1798 and 1799, were introduced to the Kentucky and Virginia legislatures by Jefferson and Madison, in opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts. These resolutions developed the concept of nullification and American compact theory that contributed to Civil War secession and division in the Jeffersonian-Republican party. (History.com) -
Election of 1800
This election, decided December 6th, 1800 for President Jefferson and Vice President Burr along the issues of the French Revolution, Alien and Sedition acts, degree of government centralization, and Anglophile versus Francophile philosophy. The election introduced the 12th amendment, Federalist decline, and the furthest yet extent of partisan campaigning. (textbook)
