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Election of George Washington
General George Washington thought he had done enough for our country. But the people wanted more; they wanted him to lead and be their President. Since the election was unanimous, Washington graciously accepted the offer to be President. He became our first President of the United States on April 30, 1789. -
The Alien Act
In 1789, Congress passed the Alien Acts in an effort to strengthen the Federal government.These laws raised the residency requirements for U.S. citizenship. The Alien act gave the government the power to deport any illegal immigrant. It also made it harder for immigrants to become citizens of the U.S. -
Bill of Rights added to the Constitution
he bill of rights was added to the Constitution on December 15, 1791. Americans wanted their individual rights to be in the Constitution to be sure they have their freedom. Some people disagreed with having a Bill of rights in the Constitution because they thing the Constitution already implies Americana's rights. They worked on this bill for months and finally came to a resolution. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a protest over a tax on all liquor made and sold in the United States. Hamilton wanted to raise money for the Treasury. Some farmers hated the Whiskey Rebellion because they didn't want to pay. However, other farmers converted their corn into Whiskey so they would get shipped easily. -
The XYZ affair
The XYZ affair occurred on April 1, 1798. During this time France became upset with the U.S. because we didn’t help them in the French Revolution. John Adams sent John Marshall, Elbridge Gerry, and Charles Pickney on a peace mission to France.But, the foreign master wouldn’t see them so he sent three men by the identities of XYZ to tell them that in order to see Talleyrand, they must pay $250,000 dollars to him. -
Sedition Act
Under this law, citizens could be fined or jailed if they criticized the goverment or its officials. In fact, several Republican newspaper editors, and even members of Congress, were fined and jailed for expressing their opinions. This law made it a crime to criticize by speech or writing the government or Constitution. The Sedition Act is dangerous cause it took away freedom and speech which is guaranteed in the First Amendment. -
Election of Thomas Jefferson
There was a electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The House of Representatives got to decide who would become president and vice president. Due to tension caused by Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson got elected as president. Hamilton's action led to Aaron Burr’s death in a duel between them in 1804. -
John Marshall appointed
On February 4, 1801, John Marshall was appointed to be Chief of the Supreme Court. John Marshall had already been in all 3 branches of government. He helped shape the American Constitutional laws and made the Supreme Court the center of power. He also inquired the the Supreme Court should be in tilted to exercise Judicial Review -
Marbury v. Madison
This court case happened in 1803. The issue was over what kind of powers the supreme court had, especially when making decisions about the Constitution. The case established the Courts rights to review acts of the President and Congress. The supreme Court became the final authority on what the Constitution really means. Judicial review made the Supreme Court an equal partner in the U.S. Government. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark expedition happened between the years of 1804-1806. It was the first United States continental expedition. During the two-year overland journey, the explorers discovered some 300 new species, encountered 50 unknown Indian tribes, and confirmed that the Rocky Mountain chain extended thousands of miles north from Mexico. The explorers dramatically advanced knowledge of the interior of the continent, discovering and mapping navigable rivers, mountains, and other varied landscape -
Lousiana Purchase
On April 30, 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana territory from France. It was more than 2 million sq. miles of land extending from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. In 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte’s army fell apart in Spain. He needed funds to rebuild their army, so he offered the United States the territory of Louisiana. -
Embargo Act
The law was passed by Congress and signed by Thomas Jefferson in 1807. This law stopped trade between America and any other country. The goal was to get British and France, who were fighting at the time, to stop restricting American trade. this act backfired and the act was ended in 1809. -
Election of James Madison
James Madison defeated Federalist Candidate Charles Pinckney. Madison has served as the United States Secretary of state under incumbent Thomas Jefferson, and Pinckney had been the unsuccessful Federalist candidate in the election of 1804. Virginia had the most votes in the electoral college. James Madison became president. -
Non- Intercourse Act
This was an 1809 law that allowed Americans to carry on trade with all nations except Britain and France. In the last days of President Thomas Jefferson's presidency, the United States Congress replaced the Embargo Act with the Non-Intercourse Act. This act lifted all embargos on American shipping except for those bound for British and French ports. The intent was the damage the economies of the United Kingdom and France. This act contributed to the war of 1812. It damaged the ecomony of US. -
War of 1812
The war was fought between the United States and Great Britain. A reason they declared war was because of trade restrictions due to Britains ongoing war with France. The war of 1812 was fought in several places. They were fought in southern states, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Great Lakes/Canadian Frontier. A peace treaty was signed soon after to end the war. -
Monroe Doctrine
In 1917, James Monroe became the fifth President of the United States. During his presidency, he created the Monroe Doctrine. Several revolutions were occurring in Latin America. He was worried that European powers would interfere with us. As a result, he made the Monroe Doctrine which stated that that European powers could not interfere in the Western Hemisphere or the U.S. would get involved. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
A case in which the Supreme Court upheld the power of the federal government. The Court struck down a New York law that tried to control steamboat travel between New York and New Jersey. It gave the government the power to regulate interstate commerce. -
McColloch v. Maryland
In 1816 Congress established the Second National Bank. This was to help control the amount of unregulated currency issued by state banks. Many states questioned the Constitutionality of the National Bank. Maryland set a precedent by requiring taxes on all banks not chartered by the states. McColloch refused to pay taxes imposed by states. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was a law passed in 1830. It forced many Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi River. In 1838, the United States Army drove more than 15,000 Cherokee's westward. The Cherokee's trekked hundreds of miles over a period of several months. -
Worcester V. Georgia
This was a case in which the United States Supreme Court vacated the conviction of Samuel Worcester. Also, the court held that Georgia act, under which Worcester was prosecuted, violated the Constitution. They also violated treaties and laws of the United States. Worcester argued that the state could not maintain the prosecution because the statue violated the Constitution, treaties between the Cherokee nation, and an act of Congress entitled “ an act to regulate trade and intercourse with the -
Closing of the U.S. bank
On July 10, 1832, President Andrew Jackson vetoed a bill that would have renewed the corporate charter for the Second Bank of the United States. Andrew Jackson felt that that the Bank of the United States was unconstitutional. At the end of 1831, Senators Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, supporters of the Bank, convinced the Bank's president, Nicholas Biddle, to submit an early petition for the renewal of the Bank's charter to Congress.Jackson vetoed that bill after a week congress had passed it.
