US History timeline & concept chart: 1789-1860 Early Republic to Antebellum

US History timeline & concept chart: U.S. History Decade-by-decade timeline, 1890s-1900

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1790s Washington & Adams administrations

PERIOD / TIMELINE	Major Events, Concepts & Themes	Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
1789 Washington inaugurated 1790 Capital moved from Philadelphia to New York 1791 Bill of Rights enacted 1791 First Bank of the United States 1793 Washington's 2nd term 1793 "Citizen Genet" episiode 1794 Whiskey Rebellion 1795 Jay's Treaty 1796 Pinckney's Treaty 1798: Alien & Sedition Acts 1798-99 Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions 1800: Washington, D.C. opened	National Debt Congress passed taxes to help pay Revolutionary War debts 1790 "Tariff of 1790" designed to reduce federal debt by taxing 1791 "Whiskey Act" imposed excise tax on sale of alcohol Residence Act of 1790 set location of Washington, DC in the South in exchange for national assumption of state debts from the War (principally northern states) Whiskey Rebellion 1794 Whiskey Act extremely unpopular Washington asserted Federal power to enforce the tax Hamilton "Report on Manufactures" promoted activist Federal governance re. economy European wars & domestic U.S. politics pro-British or pro-French sentiments political partisanship Washington Farewell Address warned against political parties warned against "foreign entanglements" Adams presidency avoided war with France marked by severe political partisanship Alien & Sedition Acts "Midnight appointments" Alien & Sedition Acts 1798 restricted naturalization (citizenship) criminalized "false statements" allowed imprisonment & deportation of "dangerous" non-citizens Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions state legislatures declared Alien & Sedition Acts unconstitutional states rights & "strict construction" of Constitution	BIG IDEAS Washington administration challenges & precedents assertion of federal powers Hamilton-Jefferson split rise of political parties Adams presidency avoidance of war with France over the XYZ Affair & naval clashes w/ French ships DETAILS Washington presidency, 1789-1797 the reluctant President click EXPAND for excerpt from Washington expressing his reluctance to become president in 1788, Washington wrote: I should unfeignedly rejoice, in case the Electors, by giving their votes to another person would save me from the dreaded dilemma of being forced to accept or refuse... If that may not be–I am, in the next place, earnestly desirous of searching out the truth, and knowing whether there does not exist a probability that the government would be just as happily and effectually carried into execution without my aid." (First President’s Election Was the Last Thing He Wanted (washingtonpapers.org) Upon election in 1791, Washington wrote that he had give up "all expectations of private happiness in this world." (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/george-washington-the-reluctant-president-49492/ George Washington: The Reluctant President (Smithsonian Magazine)] Washington's primary goals: establish precedents for the office of the President, esp. regarding manner, authority, establishing constitutional arrangements establish and protect the powers of the executive branch ensure popular support for new government tours of 1789, 1790, 1791 were designed to promote national unity, display presidency, and promote his policies consolidate U.S. territory, especially regarding Northwest Territories and Southern borders with Spain election of 1789 prior to the 12th amendment (1803), the President and Vice President were selected by 1st and 2nd place in the Electoral College, with each Elector casting two votes Washington received a unanimous 69 votes (one from each Elector) John Adams won 2nd place with 34 votes, with rest split between ten other candidates Bill of Rights adopted 1791 (BOR) agreement between Federalists and Anti-Federalist in adopting the Constitution in 1789 BOR limits federal power application of BOR to state laws comes in late 19th/ early 20th centures = “incorporation” of the Bill of Rights Constitution was for the federal government only 14th amendment starts the process of “incorporating” the Constitution, esp. BOR into state law Hamilton-Jefferson split thought to be largely over enactment of the First National Bank Jefferson vehemently opposed a national bank, fearing its impact on sectional divisions Washington reluctantly signed the bill following Hamilton's advice Residence Act of 1790 location was disputed deal made for Maryland-Virginia border in exchange for assuming national debt Virginia wanted the location Hamilton and New York wanted national assumption of war debts established permanent capitol along Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia Congress wanted a "federal" district of its own governance so as not to rely on a state named for George Washington territory ceded by Virginian and Maryland Hamilton's 1791 "Report on Manufactures" argued for federal support of domestic industry, including protective tariffs promote skilled labor immigration federal investment in transportation infrastructure laid basis for basic political/ ideological split rise of Political parties Founders used the term "faction" Federalists: Adams, Hamilton pro-national bank, pro-Fed gov powers, interpret constitution loosely, pro industry & commerce, pro-British party starts to die out after 1812 War (opposed) Democratic-Republicans Jefferson, Madison anti-national bank, states’ rights, interpret constitution strictly, pro farming, pro-French Constitutional interpretations enumerated powers = powers specifically listed in Constitution ex. Article I, Section 8: Congress shall have the power to... implied powers “necessary and proper” = implied powers required to enforce enumerated powers strict construction = word for word interpretation advocated by Jefferson and Madison Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions called for it broad or loose construction (interpretation) = interpreted “necessary and proper” loosely, expansively advocated by Adams and Hamilton European wars & domestic U.S. politics Americans were largely sympathetic with French Revolution (1789-1799) especially as anti-British various wars and clashes between European alliances centered around Britain and France Citizen Genet affair, 1793 French government sent Edmond-Charles Genêt to the U.S. to build support for its cause tp promote anti-British sentiments & encourage American attacks on British merchant ships he issued "letters of marque and reprisal," which legalized attacks on British ships on behalf of France Washington was infuriated by the interference issued the Proclamation of Neutrality on April 22, 1793 stating the America was neutral in the French / British conflict Jay's Treaty (or "Jay Treaty") Secretary of State John Jay negotiated a treaty with England that: ensured US neutrality in British-French wars opened US ports to British and British ports in Caribbean to Americans British evacuated all remaining Western forts (was part of terms of Treaty of Paris, 1783, ending Revolutionary War) = leaving Northwest territories to the U.S. U.S. agreed to pay certain Revolutionary War debts the Treaty was unpopular, especially in southern states Senate approved the treaty and the House appropriated funding for its enactment, but only after bitter debate the Jay Treaty episode further solidified the partisan/ ideological divide between Hamiltonians and Jeffersonians in 1796, House of Representative demanded internal Executive branch documents regarding the Treaty Washington refused to deliver them = establishing "executive privilege" "Pinckney's Treaty" formal name: "Treaty of San Lorenzo" agreement w/ Spain provided US access to Mississippi River removal of Spanish forts on US lands promise from Spain to help stop Indian attacks on US settlers Washington declines to run for a 3rd term = important example of a leader stepping down from power and supporting a peaceful transfer of power sets precedent for two-term limit for presidents precedent was honored until FDR, although Teddy Roosevelt ran for a third term in 1912 (and lost) Washington's "Farewell Address" a "valedictory address" (via written statement) to the American people in order to articulate his most important advice: follow the Constitution (rule of law) in order to ensure "that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual" especially in order to resolve differences avoid "combinations and associations" (factions or alliances) that would subvert the Constitution and the national laws avoid the "baneful effects of the spirit of party" (political parties) warned against "a small but artful and enterprising minority" faction to seize power and subvert the Union warned against "geographical discriminations" (sectional blocks) avoid "foreign entanglements" (getting mixed up in the affairs of other countries, especially in Europe) click EXPAND for excerpt from Washington's Farewell Address: The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad, of your safety, of your prosperity, of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts (for full text see Washington's Farewell Address (wikisource) John Adams presidency Adams unpopular but firm marked by political bitterness a dominant issue was English-French wars impacted American merchants Americans/ parties split on allegiance to Britain or France of European wars European conflicts French Revolution British interventions trade disruption, blockades, embargoes Quasi-War 1798 naval clashes w/ French privateers (private ships given permission to attack others) & American merchant ships mostly in Caribbean and Atlantic coast not a declared war, thus "“Quasi-War” France resented pro-British terms of Jay's Treaty and felt it violated "Alliance and Commerce" treaties from 1778 (during the American Revolution) Congress established the U.S. Navy and authorized use of force against French vessels XYZ Affair. 1797-98 US diplomats sent to France over Quasi-War three French officials demanded a bribe from them known as = Monsieurs (M.) "X, Y, & Z" turned American public against France Alien & Sedition Acts, 1798 Adams and congressional allies attempted to outlaw dissent congress dominated by Federalists "Naturalization Act" restricted naturalization of immigrants to become a citizen "An Act Concerning Aliens" authorized imprisonment or deportation of "dangerous" non-citizens Sedition Act criminalized "false statements" critical of the federal government outlawed publication of "false, scandalous and malicious writing" against the government unpopularity leads to Democrat-Republican wins in 1800 elections Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions 1798-99 state legislatures "nullified" Alien & Sedition Acts = declared them unconstitutional "Principles of '98" = as stated in the Resolutions states rights "strict construction" of the Constitution (= reading of the Constitution by its text alone, without inferring additional powers) state nullification of federal law impact: the Resolutions were authored in secret by Jefferson (then Vice President) and Madison = statement of their interpretation of the Constitution Washington called the Resolutions "a recipe for disunion" (see Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (wikipedia) statement of southern states rights ideology Taxation and Fries's Rebellion, 1799 as US prepared for the Quasi-War with France Congress imposed a "direct tax" upon all of the states = a federal tax apportioned by population per state the "Direct House Tax of 1798" was calculated by houses, lands, and slave ownership the only time a direct tax was ever imposed by Congress the tax was unpopular in 1799, John Fries, a German-American, organized resistance to the tax in Pennsylvania local militia captured tax "assessors" (who were to "assess" property values for the tax assessment) Federal marshals arrested resistance leaders, but local groups liberated them Adams ordered federal troops to arrest the insurgents Fries and others were arrested and charged with treason Adams granted amnesty to them in 1800 Washington DC opened as national capital, 1800 "Federal City" opened capitol moved from New York Adams first President to occupy the White House Supreme Court was located in the Capitol building initial population was 14,093 Midnight appointments after election of 1800 last minute appointments by Adams for 60 federal positions at end of his administration to fill offices with loyalists/federalists including appointment of John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Jefferson mocked the appointees as "Midnight Judges" several appointments were not delivered before end of Adams administration, including one to William Marbury the new Jefferson administration refused to deliver them in 1801 Marbury sued the government under grounds that he had been duly appointed Leads to the "landmark" case, Marbury v. Madison that established judicial review (see below) Other concepts & terms: new States in 1790s Vermont (territory ceded by New York) 1791 Kentucky (“western”), 1792 Tennessee (“western”), 1796 Northwest Territories and Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Northwest-territory-usa-1787 in 1878 the Continental Congress organized land ceded by England north of the Ohio River to the Great Lakes into a "territory" was first post-colonial "incorporated territory" = formally organized and governed by Federal government American settlers moving into the Territory sparked conflicts with Native tribes, known as the Northwest Indian War Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, commander of the American Army and Revolutionary War hero, defeated Native resistance at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794 Treaty of Greenville (1795) with the Western Confederacy, Native American Tribes led by the Delaware (tribe), formally opened the Territory to settlement emergence of political parties arose in Washington's 2nd term based on existing political alliances and perspectives Federalists Democratic-Republicans Leaders Adams, Hamilton Jefferson, Madison Policies pro-national bank, pro-Fed gov powers, interpret constitution loosely, pro industry & commerce, pro-British anti-national bank, states’ rights, interpret constitution strictly, pro farming, pro-French Notes party diminishes after War of 1812 War which it opposed and due to Monroe's adoption of some Federalist policies (bank, tariff: see Era of Good Feelings) becomes Democratic party; Jefferson considered its founder

1800-1810

PERIOD / TIMELINE	Major Events, Concepts & Themes	Notes & connections: details of issues, concepts, themes & events
timeline here 1800 Revolution of 1800 1802 Louisiana Purchase 18 18 18 18	Revolution of 1800 marked peaceful transition of power despite bitter partisanship Jefferson inaugural address subsection 2 Major Events here	BIG IDEAS Jefferson presidency settled partisan rancor from Adams presidency and election of 1800 Louisiana Purchase Madison v. Marbury landmark case establishes judicial review DETAILS Revolution of 1800 the election of 1800 was bitter Democratic-Republican party (Jefferson and Burr) accused Federalists of being monarchists Federalists accused Jefferson of loyalty to radical French revolutionaries pamphlets first transition of power from one faction to another without violence electoral college results: Jefferson & Burr tied with 73 votes Adams won 65 votes Federalists majority in the House ultimately decided for Jefferson Jefferson Inaugural Address, 1801 sought to reconcile bitterness between parties/factions “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists” Louisiana Purchase, 1802 Secretary of State James Monroe was sent to France to negotiate purchase of Louisiana Territory under Napoleon, the French had acquired Louisiana from the Spanish the French lost the Haitian rebellion = successful slave revolt establishing Haitian independence the French army sent to put down the rebellion was the largest European army ever sent to the Americas with loss of Haiti, the French no longer needed New Orleans as a shipping point for Haitian trade France offered to sell it for $15 million Federalists opposed it because it would eventually add more southern states Jefferson based power to purchase on executive powers of diplomacy Essex Junto group of New England Federalists who advocated secession by New England (and against the 1780 Massachusetts constitution) were sympathetic to England and opposed trade restrictions which severely impaired the New England economy most organizers were from Essex County, MA John Adams and John Hancock called them the "Essex Junto" as an insult principal leader Rep. Thomas Pickering vehemently opposed Jefferson's anti-British trade acts the Junto wanted Hamilton to join, but he refused to join their movement and plots in 1804 they approached Aaron Burr who was sympathetic supported the """Hartford Convention which met in 1814-15 in opposition to the War of 1812 during the war, the group was called the "Blue Lights" because they used blue lights to warn British warships of American vessels that were trying to run the British blockade or as a signal to the British to smuggle goods with them events and personalities regarding the Essex Junto led to the Burr-Hamilton duel of 1804, in which Burr killed Hamilton ' 12th Amendment to the Constitution, 1804 in response to the contested election of 1800 (Jefferson and Burr tied in electoral college vote, so the House of Representatives decided the election) also in response to partisanship during Adams administration: President Adams was Federalist Vice President Jefferson was Democratic-Republican also in response to Vice Presidency of Aaron Burr under Jefferson Burr and Jefferson were both Democratic-Republicans but Jefferson and Burr did not get along, and Jefferson did not consult Burr on Administration decisions made sense to combine President and Vice President candidates as a single ticket so the Electoral College votes are for combined "ticket" of President and Vice President candidates European blockades of US ports, 1805 British-French conflict again disrupts U.S. trade and politics blockades of U.S. ports by both French and British British commences impressment of US sailors = seizing American sailors to serve of British warships British claimed any sailor born in England or had previously served on a British warship had to serve Britain the Chesapeake-Leopard affair sparked U.S. outrage over British impressment the British HMS Leopard borded the U.S. Chesapeake and took four crew members and hanged one for desertion New England trade economy collapses Non-importation Act of 1806 = embargo on British goods in response to British impressment of American sailors Embargo Act of 1807 = US response to blockades, shut down trade Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 reopened trade w/ other nations except Britain and France ongoing tensions over trade, blockades, and impressment will lead to the War of 1812 Macon's Bill no. 2" 1808 reopens U.S. trade with Britain and France France agrees to trade with the U.S. in exchange for not trading with Britain British respond