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Election of George Washington
The Presidential Election of 1789 was an uncontested election with General Washington the only candidate for President. There was no question in anyone's mind that General Washington should be the first President. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a clash between federal authorities and farmers on the western frontier in 1794. The Whiskey Rebellion was a protest movement against what the rebels saw as the heavy-handed policies of the federal government, particularly with regard to taxation. The rebellion was significant not because of the fighting, for there was none, but rather because it demonstrated the strength of the federal government and its ability to thwart outbreaks. -
Jay’s Treaty
Jay’s Treaty, which sought to settle outstanding issues between the two countries that had been left unresolved since American independence. The treaty proved unpopular with the American public but did accomplish the goal of maintaining peace between the two nations and preserving U.S. neutrality. -
Pinckney’s Treaty
Agreement between Spain and the United States. -
1796 Washington’s Farewell Address
A letter written by the first American President, George Washington, to "The People of the United States. Washington wrote the letter near the end of his second term as President, before his retirement to his home Mount Vernon. -
Election of John Adams
He believed, the country from the aristocratic principles of the Federalists. Although increasingly fearful of Hamilton, Jefferson proved to be such a reluctant candidate that he advised Madison to favor Adams in case of a tie, for the vice president had always been, in Jefferson's words, "my senior." -
XYZ Affair
The XYZ Affair was a 1798 diplomatic episode during the administration of John Adams that Americans interpreted as an insult from France. It led to an undeclared naval war called the Quasi-War, which raged at sea from 1798 to 1800. -
1798 Naturalization Act
Increased the amount of time necessary for immigrants to become naturalized citizens in the United States from five to fourteen years. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Four bills passed in 1798 by the Federalists in the 5th United States Congress in the aftermath of the French Revolution's reign of terror and during an undeclared naval war with Britain and France -
VA and KY Resolutions
Political statements drafted in 1798 and 1799, in which the Kentucky and Virginia legislatures took the position that the federal Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. The resolutions argued that the states had the right and the duty to declare unconstitutional any acts of Congress that were not authorized by the Constitution. -
Election of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson ran with Aaron Burr as his running mate. Their “ticket” received the most votes and the decision of who would be president was given to the electors. -
Twelfth Amendment
The Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides the procedure for electing the President and Vice President. Provided the original procedure by which the Electoral College functioned.
