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Election of John Adams
During the election of 1796, John Adams(Federalist) was campaigning against Thomas Jefferson(Democratic Republican). Despite Washington's warning, John Adams and Jefferson represented opposing politcal parties. Adams won the election, and Jefferson was elected vice president. Due to their conflicting views, the next four years were difficult and led to the cration of the 12th amendment to prevent to opposing parties serving in office as president and vice president again. -
Election of George Washington
George Washington was a heroic figure for his role in the American Revolution. Though he didn’t do any campaigning on his own behalf, he was recognized throughout the country, and was unanimously selected by electors of every state. Only ten of the thirteen states participated in his election since North Carolina and Rhode Island had not yet ratified the constitution and New York was protesting parts of it.George Washington became the first president with John Adams as his vice president. -
Bill of Rights Added to the Constitution
-Several people protested against the new constitution since it didn’t say what their unalienable rights were. James Madison suggested adding a Bill of Rights stating citizens rights. The bill consists of the first 10 amendments of the constitution. It protects people's natural right of liberty and property and limit the governments power. The Bill of Rights also reserves some powers for the states and public. Federalists opposed the Bill of Rights while the anti-federalist party supported it. -
Beginning of the Federalist Party
The Federalist party started to emerge during the drafting of the Constitution. Many people had differing opinions about the federal and state powers and such. Federalists supported a strong national government, believed that only the wealthy and well educated should hold power, and followed a loose interpretation of the Constitution. Hamilton led the federalists. The federalist party disappeared after Hamilton was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr. -
Beginning of Democratic-Republican Party
It is the first opposite political party. They are known as the Anti-Federalist. Jefferson and Madison created this party to oppose the economic and foreign policies of the Federalist. They believed in strict interpretation of the constitution. They also believed that states should have the power. They would announced that many of Hamilton’s proposals unconstitutional. -
Whiskey Rebellion
It was a Rebellion created by farmers. They protested over a tax on all liquor. George Washington replied strong and firm. It told the people that George Washington would act firm when time is in crises. -
XYZ Affair
France became upset with the US because we didn’t help them with the French Revolution and we signed a treaty with Great Britain to encourage trade. France began attacking US ships involved with trade with Great Britain, so Adams sent three diplomates on a peace mission to France. The French minister, Talleyrand, refused to see them himself. Instead, he sent three men to bribe the US. They are know as X,Y, and Z. This event showed the world that the US demanded to be treated with respect. -
Alien Act
During 1798, John Adams received a very critical letter. The Federalists believed that the criticism for their policies from Democratic-Republicans was disloyal. Federalists also believed that aliens living inside the U.S. would join the French. As a result, congress, which was controlled by Federalists, passed the Alien and Sedition Acts. these laws permitted the president to deport aliens that posed as a threat and raised the residency requirement for citizenship to 14 years. -
Sedition Act
It was a law passed by the congress. The Republicans grew even angrier. This law means that if the citizens criticized the government or its officials, they could be fined or go to jail. The Republicans protested that it violated the constitution, first Amendment. -
Election of Thomas Jefferson
He defeated John Adams to become 3rd President. He doesn’t like National Government which means he is a Democratic. It was a hard fought campaign. Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received the same electoral votes and Adams is the main opponent to Jefferson. -
John Marshall Appointed
Marshall was a federalist so he favored the national government. He used various cases to increase federal power. The Constitutional significance from some of his cases was Judicial Review, made the Supreme Court the final authority to what the Constitution means, made the Supreme Court equal to the other three branches, and strengthened the power of the national government. -
Marbury v. Madison
At the end of his presidency, John Adams appointed several judges to the Supreme Court. Jefferson told Madison not to deliver the official papers confirming their appointments. The commissions were signed and sealed by the Adams while he was still president, but they were delivered after the expiration of his term. Marbury sued Madison for not delivering the papers, and Marbury won the case. As a result, the Supreme Court gained the right to review acts and declare them unconstitutional.
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Louisiana Purchase
People west of the Appalachian Mountains shipped their goods down the Mississippi river and out the port of New Orleans, which was controlled by France. To make shipping goods easier, Jefferson decided to buy New Orleans. He sent James Monroe to France to buy the New Orleans with $10 million. Napoleon offered all of Louisiana for $15 million. Jefferson was criticised since he went against his beliefs of a strict interpretation of the constitution. The purchased doubled the size of the nation. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The government needed a grasp of what they bought before they could start settlement, so Jefferson asked Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to map a route to the Pacific Ocean through the new Louisiana territory. They met Sacagawea and she served as a guide and translator for them along the way. They gathered valuable information about animals, plants, native tribes, climate and geography. -
Embargo Act
It was a law that banned foreign trades. It hurt Britain and France. Most of all, it hurt us, Americans, including the sea workers. Sugar, molasses, and tea were cut off which made it decreased more than 80 million dollars. That was within a year. -
Election of James Madison
He easily won the election and became the 4th president of the U.S. He is a Democratic Republican. He was nicknamed “Father of the constitution.” He was also called the Founding Father. Before he became President as a democratic, he was a federalist. He gradually became a Democratic because he spend a lot of with Thomas Jefferson. -
Non-Intercourse Act
It was a law that let Americans trade with all nations except Britain and France. Republicans still remained strong. It replaced the Embargo Act since it had failed. The Non-Intercourse Act made it a little easier to trade. -
War of 1812
It started because the congress declared war on Britain. The war of 1812 included the Battle of Lake Erie, Battle of New Orleans, Hartford Convention, and Treaty of Ghent. The U.S wasn’t ready for war. Jefferson had reduced the spending on defense. Luckily, we won all the battles. -
Election of James Monroe
He easily became the 5th president. It was called the Era of Good Feelings. The Federalist began to die down at this time which let the Democratic to take over. No one decided to opposed Monroe to be president. -
Monroe Doctrine
During the era of good feeling in the US, several revolutions were occurring in Latin America. Monroe was worried that the European nations would interfere with these revolutions, so he created a foreign policy statement known as the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine warned European powers not to interfere in the Western hemisphere or the US would get involved. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
It was a case where a New York law tried to control steamboats traveling between New York to New Jersey. The Supreme Court stated that only the federal government can regulate trades between states. The states could only regulate trades within their own borders. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
It was a case where McCulloch didn’t want to pay the tax by the the state of Maryland. As a result, the Supreme Court stated that states had no right to interfere with federal establishments within their borders. Which allowed the bank of the U.S to continue. It strengthened the power of the national government and the federal power.
