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The Declaration of Independence
Independence Day, also known as "the Fourth of July," celebrates our Declaration of Independence from the British Empire in 1776. -
Lee Resolution
The Lee Resolution, also known as the resolution of independence, was an act of the Second Continental Congress declaring the Thirteen Colonies to be independent of the British Empire. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution, declaring that the confederacy of the former 13 colonies would be called “The United States of America.” -
The Alliance Treaty with France
The Treaty of Alliance created a military alliance against Great Britain, stipulating American independence as a condition of peace -
The US constitution
Written in 1787, ratified in 1788, and in operation since 1789, the U.S. Constitution is the world's longest surviving written charter of government. -
The Federalist papers
"Written in favour of the New Constitution" (in 1787 and 1788), the Federalist Papers explores how the American government might operate. -
Virginia plan
On May 29, 1787, Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph proposed what became known as "The Virginia Plan." Written primarily by fellow Virginian James Madison, the plan traced the broad outlines of what would become the U.S. Constitution: a national government consisting of three branches with checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance, adopted July 13, 1787, by the Confederation Congress, chartered a government for the Northwest Territory, provided a method for admitting new states to the Union from the territory, and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. -
1st Amendment
The first amendments gives us the right to freedom of speech, religion, and to peaceably assemble -
Federal judicial Act
The founders of the new nation believed that the establishment of a national judiciary was one of their most important tasks. Yet Article III of the Constitution of the United States, the provision that deals with the judiciary branch of government, is markedly smaller than Articles I and II, which created the legislative and executive branches. -
3rd Amendment
Said that at no time would a soldier be placed in a house without consent of the owner -
4th Amendment
Gave us the rights to be secure person, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures -
5th Amendment
Right to due process -
8th Amendment
The right to no cruel or unusual punishments -
The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights which guarantee essential rights and liberties, were ratified in 1791. -
2nd Amendment
Gave us the right to bear arms -
6th Amendment
The right to a speedy and public trial -
7th Amendment
Gave the right to trial by jury -
9th Amendment
The right that if something is not in the constitution does not mean its not your right -
10th Amendment
emphasizes that the inclusion of a bill of rights does not change the fundamental character of the national government. -
Whiskey rebellion
As the new country began finding its feet, U.S. Pres. George Washington sent troops to western Pennsylvania in 1794 to quell the Whiskey Rebellion, an uprising by citizens who refused to pay a liquor tax that had been imposed by Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton to raise money for the national debt and to assert the power of the national government -
11th Amendment
prohibits the federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits against states -
President George Washington's Farewell Address
In early 1796, President George Washington decided not to seek reelection for a third term and began drafting this farewell address to the American people. The address went through numerous drafts, in large part due to suggestions made by Alexander Hamilton. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
In 1798 the United States stood on the brink of war with France. The Federalists believed that Democratic-Republican criticism of Federalist policies was disloyal and feared that aliens living in the United States would sympathize with the French during a war. -
Louisiana purchase
Increased the US size to half of what it is today -
Maybury Vs. Madison
This decision gave the Court the ability to strike down laws on the grounds that they are unconstitutional (a power called judicial review). -
12th Amendment
each elector must cast distinct votes for president and vice president, instead of two votes for president -
Battle of New Orleans
On January 8, 1815, a ragtag army under the command of Andrew Jackson decisively defeated British forces in the Battle of New Orleans, even though the War of 1812 had actually already ended. -
McCulloch vs. Maryland
The McCulloch decision established two important principles for constitutional law that continue today: implied powers and federal supremacy. -
Missouri Compromise
With the purchase of the Louisiana Territory and the application of Missouri for statehood, the long-standing balance between the number of slave states and the number of free states would be changed. Controversy arose within Congress over the issue of slavery. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Era of Good Feelings (roughly 1815–25), a period of American prosperity and isolationism, was in full swing when U.S. Pres. James Monroe articulated a set of principles in 1823 that decades later would be called the Monroe Doctrine. According to the policy, the United States would not intervene in European affairs, but likewise it would not tolerate further European colonization in the Americas or European interference in the governments of the American hemisphere. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
The impact of Gibbons is still felt today as it gives the federal government a much-broader base to regulate economic transactions. -
Era of the common man
Andrew Jackson, the U.S. president from 1829–37, was said to have ushered in the Era of the Common Man. But while suffrage had been broadly expanded beyond men of property, it was not a result of Jackson’s efforts. -
Compromise of 1850
By 1850 sectional disagreements centering on slavery were straining the bonds of union between the North and South. These tensions became especially acute when Congress began to consider whether western lands acquired after the Mexican War would permit slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
In January 1854, Senator Stephen Douglas introduced a bill that divided the land west of Missouri into two territories, Kansas and Nebraska. He argued for popular sovereignty, which would allow the settlers of the new territories to decide if slavery would be legal there. -
Dred Scott vs. Sandford
The Dred Scott case became a central issue in the debate surrounding the expansion of slavery and further fueled the flames leading to the Civil War. -
Morrill Act
Sponsored by Senator Justin Morrill of Vermont, “An Act Donating public lands to the several States and [Territories] which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the Mechanic arts” marked the first Federal aid to higher education. But the government’s recognition of its obligation to provide schools for its future citizens dates from the beginning of the republic -
13th Amendment
abolished slavery -
14th Amendement
Guaranteed everyone had equal protection of rights -
15th amendment
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any State, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. -
Pendleton Act
Following the assassination of President James A. Garfield by a disgruntled job seeker, Congress passed the Pendleton Act in January of 1883. The act was steered through Congress by long-time reformer Senator George Hunt Pendleton of Ohio. The act was signed into law by President Chester A. Arthur, who had become an ardent reformer after Garfield’s assassination. -
Interstate Commerce Act
In 1887 Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act, making the railroads the first industry subject to Federal regulation. Congress passed the law largely in response to public demand that railroad operations be regulated. The act also established a five-member enforcement board known as the Interstate Commerce Commission. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was the first measure passed by the U.S. Congress to prohibit trusts. It was named for Senator John Sherman of Ohio, who was a chairman of the Senate finance committee and the Secretary of the Treasury under President Hayes. Several states had passed similar laws, but they were limited to intrastate businesses. -
16th Amendment
allows the federal government to levy an income tax from all Americans -
17th amendment
Allowed voters to cast direct votes for U.S senators -
18th Amendment
Banned the sell and drinking of alcohol -
Schenck v. United States
The Schenck decision is best known for creating the "clear and present danger" test meaning that speech could be restricted if it presented a clear and present danger. The decision was also the first to explain the metaphor of falsely yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater. Schenck was later modified by Brandenburg v. Ohio, which said that speech could be restricted if it would provoke an "imminent lawless action." -
19th Amendment
the right to vote no matter what sex you are -
20th Amendment
designed to remove the excessively long period of time a defeated president or member of Congress would continue to serve after his or her failed bid for reelection. -
21st Amendment
Repealed the 18th amendment so people could drink alcohol -
Brown v. Board of Education
The Brown decision is heralded as a landmark decision in Supreme Court history, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) which had created the "separate but equal" doctrine. -
22nd Amendment
Stated the president can only be in office for two terms. -
23rd Amendment
Gave the residents of Washington DC the right to vote -
Gideon v. Wainwright
Along with the right to assistance for state criminal defendants, the Gideon decision had the effect of expanding public defender systems across the country. -
24th Amendment
Got rid of the poll tax -
Miranda v. Arizona
The now famous "Miranda warnings" are required before any police custodial interrogation can begin if any of the evidence obtained during the interrogation is going to be used during a trial; the Court has limited and narrowed these warnings over the years. -
25th Amendment
Came with a plan incase a president died or left office -
Tinker v. Des Moines
Tinker has become the central case for any challenges to school-based First Amendment rights. -
26th Amendment
The right of citizens in the US 18 and older cannot be denied the right to vote -
Roe v. Wade
Roe has become a center-piece in the battle over abortion-rights, both in the public and in front of the Court. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
he decision started a line of cases in which the Court upheld affirmative action programs. In 2003, such academic affirmative action programs were again directly challenged in Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger. -
27th Amendment
Prohibits any increase and decrease of salary for people in congress
