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John Adams marries Abagail Smith
Abagail Adams was the wife of John Adams, the second president of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the US. She was an early advocate of women's rights and is know for encouraging her husband to "remember the ladies" when drafting the Constitution. She was very politically consious and made worked dilligently to encourage women's participation in the nation. -
Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
Paul Revere was a Freemason who eventually took on the role as a spy for the Continental Army. He was know for participating in the Boston Tea Party by dressing as an Indian and throwing British tea into the harbor in 1773. But most of all he is know by the words: "The British are coming! the British are coming!" On this midnight ride he warned every house about the incoming British. He was soon arrested by the British Army and held for a bit, but his valiant efforts greatly aided the Americans. -
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American Revolutionary War
This was the start of the American fight for independence. The most influencial man in this fight was George Washington. A man who was once thought to not have enough skill to be the commander of the Continental Army became the reason for our independence as a country as well as the first American president. Not only did he defeat a king, but he refused to become one himself. George Washington's bravery and refusal to give up on our nation's freedom made the United States possible. -
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Shays' Rebellion
Although Shays' Rebellion inclueded participation from many Shaysites, it was named after their leader Daniel Shays. Shays led a group of rebels in Massachusetts in an attempt to protest the lack of pro-debtor laws and to liberate imprisoned debtors. The rebellion was extremely influential because it led many people (Federalists) to question democracy and support a Constitution that neglected many individual liberties that we have today. Daniel Shays advocacy for his beliefs changed the gov't. -
Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
James Madison is known as the "father of the Constitution". He was also one of the anonymous authors of the Federalist Papers and he is known for writing Federalist No.10. Madison contributed immense amounts of inspiration and foundation to the Constitution. He was a man dedicated to finding the balance between a popular government and a just government. -
Hamilton's Financial Plan
After the American Revolution, the economy was in dire straits. Thanks to Alexander Hamilton, the United States would recover even after bleeding all of their resources dry during the war. The three major components of his plan were:
1. repay all war debts (including state debts)
2. raise government revenues
3. create a national bank
Despite the fact that his friends Madison and Jefferson didn't agree with the construction of a national bank, Hamilton fought for what would save the country. -
Ratification of the Bill of Rights
History often neglects the role George Mason played in the creation and ratification of the Bill of Rights. These ten amendments were created to compensate for what the Constitution lacked in rights of individuals. There was no one who advocated for these rights to be included more than George Mason. Even after contributing a great deal to the Constitution, he refused to sign it because it didn't promote enough individual freedoms. He is one of the leaders who gave us the liberties we have today -
Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson was a philosopher, lawyer, statesman, architect, teacher, inventor and a draftsman of the Constitution. One of his most influential actions was negotiating the Louisiana Purchase. This 15 million dollar real estate deal with France more than doubled the size of the United States and provided the people with more than enough space to expand. Jefferson's success in this was a source of pride for many Americans. -
Death of Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams was an extremely influential man in the history of the United States. He is known for the leading the opposition of the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townshend Acts. He served as a delegate at the Continental Congress and he signed the Declaration of Independence. Sam Adams was extremely politically involved and was crucial in the gaining of indepence as well as the foundation of America. -
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The Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition was commision by Thomas Jefferson shortly after the Louisiana Purchase. The primary goal was to explore and map the newly attained US terrritory. The person that was essential to the success of the expedition was Sacajawea. Sacajawea was born into the Shoshone tribe and then sold to a French-Canadian man with whom she joined the expedition in 1804. Her work as a tanslator helped Lewis and Clark exponentially and greatly influenced what we know about our country.
