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Ratification of Constitution
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President/Timeline
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George Washington
Georg Washington Presidency -
French Revolution
French Revolution
In 1789, the French people rebelled against their King. The leaders dreamed of building a nation based on “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity”. In 1792, they declared war against all kings. Many Americans were happy about the French Revolution. The Americans saw the French Revolution as a part of a great crusade for democracy. Jefferson supported the French in the rebellion because he thought that violence was ok if it resulted in liberty. It soon became too violent and m -
Neutrality Proclamation
Neutrality Proclamation
The French had helped the United States in the Revolutionary War, meaning they were allies. The French were expecting the Americans to help fight Great Britain. America and France signed a treaty during the American Revolution. France wanted the help with another war but Washington wanted to be neutral and not get involved. Washington issued a neutrality proclamation. It stated that the United States would not support either side in the war. -
Cotton Gin
Cotton Gin
The farmer could plant a lot of cotton because the climate was ideal, but the slaves could not pick the cotton fast enough. Eli Whitney built a machine that could pick and clean the cotton quickly. That meant that more slaves could plant the cotton instead of picking and cleaning it slowly. The number of slaves increased a lot. The farmers only grew 600 bales of cotton before the gin, but after the cotton gin, it was about two million a year. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Rebellion 1794 Taxes were put on all luxury items,
including whiskey. Farmer found it
cheaper to ship their wheat once it
was turned into whiskey.
Unfortunately, the new tax made it
expensive so the farmers refused to
pay the taxes. Washington sent
troops in put down the rebellion.
Washington’s actions showed the
citizens that they must obey national laws -
Jay's Treaty
Jay’s Treaty
France hoped that the problems between Great Britain and the United States would lead to war and then the United States would help to fight with France against Great Britain. The treaty said Great Britain would remove all soldiers from the Ohio Valley. Americans promised to pay for all the damages. The French viewed this treaty as a betrayal by the United States. France began attacking and seized 316 American ships. -
George Washington's Farewell Address
Washington’s Farewell Address
In 1796, George Washington published his farewell address to the Nation. He advised Americans to not get involved in European affairs. He wasn’t against foreign trade he was against European nations dragging the United States into war. The French had signed a treaty with the United States making them allies, and they thought that the United States would help them fight Great Britain. Washington’s foreign policy guided the country for many years. -
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John Adams
John Adams Presidency -
XYZ Affair
XYZ Affair
Adams sent three envoys or representatives to end French attacks. They refused to receive the Americans. Instead, they met secret agents known as X, Y, and Z. The agents said there would be no peace talks unless Talleyrand received a large sum of money. The public was outraged and called for war. Congress voted to recruit an army of 10,000 men. It also voted to build 12 new ships for the navy. -
Alien and Seditions Acts
Alien and Sedition Act
The Alien and Sedition Act was four controversial laws that Congress passed. Three of them (Alien acts) were aimed at non citizens and their right to vote. The fourth (Sedition act) was a law against encouraging rebellion against the government. They were repealed. -
Virginia and Ky Resolution
Virginia and Kentucky
Jefferson opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts. He urged the States to take strong action against the acts. The acts passed resolutions. It claimed that each state has an equal right to judge for itself. States created the Federal Government through the Constitution. The Virginia/Kentucky Resolution didn’t work. -
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Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson Presidency -
Marbury v Madison
Hartford Convention
The British blockade hurt New England’s sea trade. New Englanders feared the United States would gain more land from France and Canada. The delegates met in Hartford. They held a Convention there because they disliked the Republican President and the war. They were also threatening to leave the Union The threat of leaving further weakened the dying Federalist party and the Convention fell apart because the war ended. -
Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson was trying to buy New Orleans. Gaining New Orleans was important because it made sure that the farmers would always be able to ship the goods through the port. Napoleon had big plans for Louisiana, but they were in debt from the war and needed money, so they sold it to the United States. Not all Americans liked the idea of the purchase. Some said that it made the United States too big. Many people believed President Jefferson did not have the constitutional powe -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition Lewis and Clark were explorers who in 1804 started an expedition up the Missouri River. They met Indians along the way. An Indian named Sacagawea and her husband agreed to go with them to help them and translate for them. They crossed the Rockies and met a tribe of Shoshones, and one of them was Sacagawea’s brother. They advised Lewis and Clark the best route to cross the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide. They finally reached the Pacific Ocean, then bac -
National Road System
National Road System
In 1806, Congress funded the construction of a national road across the Appalachian Mountains. The purpose of the road was to tie the new western states with the east. President James Monroe vetoed a bill that would have given states money to build more roads. Monroe said that spending federal money for internal improvement was unconstitutional. -
Piracy
Piracy
June 1, 1807
The French colonies along the Barbary coast
of Africa made it a habit to stop all foreign
ship sailing near them and demanding that
the ship pay a bribe in order for the ships
to sail in the Barbary waters. Then the
Barbary Coast rulers declared war on the U.S.
and captured the Philadelphia and held the crew
for ransom. Americans soon raided the harbor and
freed their ship and sailors. Eventually a treaty
was struck and bribes were no longe -
Impressment of Sailors
Impressment of Sailors
June 1, 1807
In an effort to get the U.S. to aid in
its war effort against France, Great
Britain made a habit of stopping
American ships sailing the Atlantic
Ocean and searching for British
sailors that had deserted the
Royal Navy. Many times, the
sailors they took were American
citizens. The entire event reached
its tipping point when
the American Ship, the Chesapeake ,
was fired on and 21 American
sailors were killed. -
Embargo Acts
Embargo Acts December 22, 1807 After years of dealing with both France and
Great Britain’s abuse of our ship, Thomas Jefferson
decided to enact a law that made it illegal for
foreign ships to enter American harbors and
for American ships to sail anywhere except into
other American harbors. He hoped that this act
would avoid war but also teach the foreign nations
that they could no longer interfere with American ships.
The scheme back fired when so many -
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James Madison
James Madison Presidency -
Battle of Tippecanoe
Battle of Tippecanoe
Once settlers started pushing into Indiana angry Native Americans vowed to keep settlers from taking more land. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa (also called the Prophet) were their leaders. The Prophet built a village for his followers along Tippecanoe Creek. Many traveled to hear his message. Tecumseh worked to organize Indian nations into a confederation against the settlers. Their rivals kept Tecumseh from uniting Indians east of the Mississippi River. Harrison -
War of 1812
War of 1812
The United States was completely unprepared for the War of 1812. The United States invaded Canada. The British brought the war deep into American territory by invading Washington D.C. in 1814. The British traveled to the port city of Baltimore. The British warships began shelling the fort. Exploding bombs fell over the harbor. Francis Scott Key wrote about the site of the bombs going off over the American’s Fort McHenry. He was thrilled that their flag was still waving. We st -
Hartford Convention
Hartford Convention
The British blockade hurt New England’s sea trade. New Englanders feared the United States would gain more land from France and Canada. The delegates met in Hartford. They held a Convention there because they disliked the Republican President and the war. They were also threatening to leave the Union The threat of leaving further weakened the dying Federalist party and the Convention fell apart because the war ended. -
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James Monroe
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Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The purpose of digging the Erie Canal was to build a canal linking the Great Lakes with the Mohawk and the Hudson Rivers. It would let western farmers ship goods to Wyoming and bring business to towns along the route. It was an instant success and nicknamed Clinton’s Ditch. -
American Colonization Society
American Colonization Society
The purpose and objective of the American Colonization society was to end slavery by setting up an independent colony in Africa for freed slaves. President Monroe was the President who supported the idea. -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise
Missouri was considered a slave state in 1820. If Missouri was admitted to the Union, it would give the south a majority in the Senate. Northerners opposed letting them in. Senator Henry Clay suggested a compromise. The Missouri Compromise proposed that Maine be admitted as a free state and Missouri as a slave state, keeping the number of Senators equal. The Compromise drew an imaginary line across the southern border of Missouri. Slavery was south of the line and banne -
Monroe Doctrine
Hartford Convention
The British blockade hurt New England’s sea trade. New Englanders feared the United States would gain more land from France and Canada. The delegates met in Hartford. They held a Convention there because they disliked the Republican President and the war. They were also threatening to leave the Union The threat of leaving further weakened the dying Federalist party and the Convention fell apart because the war ended. -
Election of 1824
Election of 1824
There were four candidates for President at the beginning of the race of 1824. They were John Q. Adams, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, and William Crawford. John Adams and Andrew Jackson were the only two candidates still running for President when the election ended up in the House of Representatives. Clay urged members of the House to vote for Adams, and in return Adams named Clay Secretary of State. Jackson felt that this was a corrupt bargain. -
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John Quincy Adams
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Andrew Jackson
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Indian Removal Act
Indian Removal Act
May 26,1830 Settlers in America were interested in the land
owned by Native Americans in southern America.
At first, the government tried to buy the land,
but the Native Americans refused to sell and
the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Indians.
Nevertheless, President Jackson ordered the forced
removal of all Native Americans to sections in
present day Oklahoma. This became known as the
Trail of Tears because too do many Native Americans
died as they were m -
Nat Turner Uprising
Nat Turner Uprising
August 22, 1831 Nat Turner was a slave and a minister who led a slave
uprising that resulted in the deaths of 57 white
Southerners. Turner and the slaves were hunted
down and killed. Even though the uprising was
not a success, it really scared white slave owners
and so they began to pass even stricter law in an
effort to control the slaves. -
Veto of charter of Bank of US
Veto Charter
Jackson felt that the Bank of the United States was too powerful. It controlled loans made by state banks. The bank directors limited the amount that they could lend. This angered the farmers and merchants. Jackson felt that Biddle (the Bank President) only benefitted the rich. The Bank’s charter was not due for renewal until 1836, however Clay and Webster wanted to make the Bank an issue in the 1832 election. They persuaded Biddle to apply for renewal early. If Jackson vetoe -
Panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
Two months after Martin Van Buren was elected, he faced the worst economic crisis the nation had known. It is called the Panic of 1837. Farmers sought to buy land, but speculators bought even more land. The speculators borrowed money from the state banks. State banks could lend money without any limits. They were hoping to make huge profits. They printed more money to keep up, but didn’t have the gold to back it up. President Jackson ordered that anyone buying public land ha -
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Martin Van Buren
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William Henry Harrison
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John Tyler
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Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail started in Missouri and ended in Oregon next to the Columbia River. The settlers traveled by wagon. The trip was difficult. It had steep mountains, disease from the water and many other hardships. Most of the settlers died of the disease, drowned, or they were killed by Indians because they were bringing the diseases. The journey was about 2,000 miles and took about five months to make. The Oregon Trail helped to settle the western portion of the United States -
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James Knox Polk
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Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny
The United States thought that it was their job to expand their territory because they thought it was God’s plan for America, and they saw their nation and its democratic government as the best in the world. Americans thought that they had the right and the duty to spread their culture. A newspaper in New York called this belief Manifest Destiny. Some Americans believed that expansion of territory would help the nation’s economy. White Americans were taking land from the Nat -
Annexation of Texas
Annexation of Texas
Texas wanted their independence from Mexico. Texas wanted to be part of the United States. Southerners wanted Texas to be annexed because it was another slave state, but northerners opposed it. Another reason was the United States did not want to get into war with Mexico. Once Texas was to gain its independence from Mexico, President Sam Houston wanted to annex Texas. The relationship between the United States and Mexico went downhill because the United States wanted to -
Mormons settle Utah
Mormons settle Utah
The Mormons decided to move out west in search of a new home to escape religious persecution, hoping to be left alone to follow their faith in peace. Brigham Young led the Mormons west after their leader Joseph Smith was killed. The Mormons settled in Utah in the valley of the Great Salt Lake. Life out there was barren, hot in the summers and cold in the winters. It was not a desirable place to live. To adapt to the dry area, they built dams, canals and irrigation ditc -
Gold Rush
Gold Rush
January 24, 1848 The discovery of gold in California brought people
from all over the world and all over the U.S. to
California in the pursuit of striking it rich. The population
of California grew so fast that it became a state long
before other western territories. Along with gold,
the rush also resulted in: a more diverse population,
the displaced of Native Americans from their land,
and a lot of economic opportunities. -
Free soil Party
Free Soil Party
Northern Democrats and Whigs united to from the Free Soil Party. Its purpose was to keep slavery out of the western territories. The two parties united hoping that they would capture the Presidency instead of splitting the vote. They lost the election and only got ten percent of the popular vote, but they did win thirteen seats in Congress. This success did show that slavery had become a national issue.
