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The Ratification of the Constitution (June 21, 1788)

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The Ratification of the Constitution (June 21, 1788)

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This event is when we finally signed a new government into place and all of the states agreed on it. This is very significant because it took a very long time to convince everyone to sign the Constitution, this includes adding a Bill of Rights. This has now set our government and how we will be each day and the rights that we have.

Source: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-day-the-constitution-was-ratified

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George Washington's Inauguration (April 30, 1789)

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George Washington's Inauguration (April 30, 1789)

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This event was to swear Washington in as the President of the US before a joint meeting of congress at Federal Hall in NY. After his oath, he delivered an address. This was important because it marked the start of our government and the executive branch could officially start operations.

Source: https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1700s/The-first-inauguration-at-Federal-Hall-in-New-York-City/

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The first Bank of the U.S. is chartered (February 25, 1791)

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The first Bank of the U.S. is chartered (February 25, 1791)

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This event was when a bank was established to help improve the states' credit and to help with the financial needs and requirements of a new central government. This was important because it helped stabilize our economy while dealing with debt after the war.

Source:https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/first-bank-of-the-us#:~:text=President%20Washington%20signed%20the%20bill,with%20a%20twenty%2Dyear%20charter.

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This event was a result of the tax that Washington put on whiskey. Many people and farmers were very upset by this and decided to rebel. They protested the tax and did not stop until 1794. This even was significant because it tested federal authority for the first time and showed the government will use their forces.

Source: https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-business-history/august/whiskey-rebellion#:~:text=Why%20was%20this%20rebellion%20significant,impact%20citizens%20in%20all%20states.

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Proclamation of Neutrality (April 22, 1793)

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Proclamation of Neutrality (April 22, 1793)

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This event is a declaration that was made for the United States to not get involved and stay neutral in foreign affairs. This is important because it helped us stay out of wars and set up a precedent for foreign policies.

Source:https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/neutrality-proclamation/#:~:text=The%20Proclamation%20was%20important%20for,in%20the%20first%20party%20system.

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This treaty was an agreement between the British and the United States that helped avert a war between the nations by limiting trade. This is significant because it helped keep us out of another war and getting into debt again and staying at "peace" with Britain.

Source: https://guides.loc.gov/jays-treaty#:~:text=Signed%20on%20November%2019%2C%201794,websites%2C%20and%20a%20print%20bibliography.

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This treaty settled the dispute between the United States and Spain over the boundary of Spanish Florida. This granted Americans rights over the Mississippi river. This is important because it was a diplomatic success for the states and it defined the border between the states and Spanish Florida.

Source: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/pickney-treaty#:~:text=The%20treaty%20was%20an%20important,Orleans%2C%20then%20under%20Spanish%20control.

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Washington's Farewell Address (September 19, 1796)

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Washington's Farewell Address (September 19, 1796)

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This address was a speech that Washington made at the end of his presidency to give advice to the people and talking a little about what he has done to service the people and government in the past years. In this he addresses the concern of political parties and warns against them. He also warns them about foreign wars and getting involved. This is very important because it told the people that Washington would no longer rain as president, and it gives the states important warnings of what to stay careful about as they continue to grow and continue as a country.

Source: https://www.senate.gov/about/traditions-symbols/washingtons-farewell-address.htm#:~:text=In%20this%20letter%20to%20%E2%80%9CFriends,the%20stability%20of%20the%20republic.

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This election was the first election where the citizens could choose between 2 candidates from different political parties. The Democratic-Republican candidate was Thomas Jefferson, and the Federalist candidate was John Adams. Even though they both picked out a Vice President, the loser ends up as Vice President instead. Adams won the election, making Jefferson the Vice President. This event was important because it was the first time political parties played a dominant roll and it is the only election where 2 opposing parties were on the same ticket.

Sources: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1796

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This article was most recently revised and updated by

United States presidential election of 1796, American presidential election held in 1796, in which Federalist John Adams defeated Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson.

American presidential election, 1796 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Rise of the political party system

The election of 1796 marked the emergence of the political party system in the United States. In the previous elections of 1789 and 1792, George Washington won unanimous support with no party affiliation, but over the course of his presidency a strong political divide had formed around the fiscal policy of Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton and others who favoured a loose interpretation of the Constitution and a strong central government formed the Federalist Party in 1791. Their opponents, favouring a strict interpretation of the Constitution and states' rights, rallied around Thomas Jefferson. Though Jefferson maintained that the party system was unfavourable, he formed his own party, later to become known as the Democratic-Republican party.

Political issues in the 1790s began to be viewed along these party lines, and the rift between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans was furthered by foreign policy disputes. In 1796, though there was not yet a clear procedure for selecting partisan candidates, informal and secretive caucuses were held for the parties' congressional delegations to choose presidential and vice presidential nominees. The Democratic-Republicans chose Jefferson, and the Federalists nominated Vice Pres. John Adams. Neither party was able to decide on a vice presidential candidate. At the time, however, the Constitution-not having anticipated the rise of the party system-stated that the candidate with the second highest total of votes would become vice president.

Though unfamiliarity with contested presidential elections and the indirectness of the electoral system led to low public interest, the election was closely fought-in part because of the rapidly forming party divide. The result was a narrow victory for Adams, who carried 71 electoral votes to Jefferson's 68. Adams swept the northeast, while Jefferson won much of the south and west. Under the original electoral system devised under the Constitution (not changed until the Twelfth Amendment in 1804), Jefferson became Adams's vice president-a situation that, owing to their conflicting political parties, proved difficult for the Adams administration.

Collection of David J. and Janice L. Frent

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For the results of the previous election, see United States presidential election of 1792. For the results of the subsequent election, see United States presidential election of 1800.

Results of the 1796 election

The results of the 1796 U.S. presidential election are provided in the table.

presidential candidate

political party

electoral votes

popular votes*
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

*Electors were chosen by legislatures in many states, not by popular vote.

Source: United States Office of the Federal Register.

John Jay
Independent-Federalist

5

John Henry

Independent

2

Samuel Johnston

Independent-Federalist

2

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Independent-Federalist

1

Amy Tikkanen, Corrections Manager.

Learn More in these related Britannica articles:

United States presidential election of 1796

date

participants

related topics

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united states presidential election of 1796

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US presidential election of 1796 | Candidates, Results, & Facts

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US presidential election of 1796, American presidential election held in 1796, in which Federalist John Adams defeated Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson. Adams received 71 electoral votes to Jefferson's 68. The election was especially notable for marking the emergence of the political party system.

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In this event Adams sent 3 ministers to France to negotiate a deal regarding a commercial agreement to protect the States' shipping. The French sent out 3 officials, that we named X, Y, and Z, that told the Americans they would have to bribe them in order to see the French minister. This is important because it led to the undeclared  2 year war with the French.

Source:https://www.britannica.com/event/XYZ-Affair

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The "Quasi war" with France (July 7, 1798)

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The "Quasi war" with France (July 7, 1798)

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This event was a limited, undeclared war against the french who were seizing the United States ships. This naval war lasted about 2 years and challenged the states' neutrality declaration. This is significant because it was the first time the U.S. Navy got to jump into action.

Source: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/quasi-war/

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The Alien and Sedition Acts (July 14, 1798)

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The Alien and Sedition Acts (July 14, 1798)

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These acts were passed by the Federalist controlled Congress. The Alien Acts raised the years from 5 to 14 for residency requirements for citizenship, as well as authorizing the president the right to deport any "aliens" he saw fit during the war time. The Sedition act prohibited the citizens to write, speak or publish anything misleading, malicious or false about the government. This was significant because many citizens felt these imposed on their civil rights and in return were not fair.

Source: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/alien-and-sedition-acts#:~:text=As%20a%20result%2C%20a%20Federalist,imprisonment%2C%20and%20deportation%20during%20wartime.

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The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (December 24, 1798)

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The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (December 24, 1798)

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These resolutions condemned the Alien and Sedition acts for being unconstitutional and explained that because they infringed on the rights of the citizens and they overstep federal authority they are null and void. This was written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. This was significant because it showed the power of the constitution and the practice of nulling and voiding due to the federal government acting unconstitutional.

Source: https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/877/virginia-and-kentucky-resolutions-of-1798#:~:text=Federalist%2Ddominated%20Congress.-,Drafted%20in%20secret%20by%20future%20Presidents%20Thomas%20Jefferson%20and%20James,they%20were%20null%20and%20void.

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During this election, the candidates were John Adams (Federalist), Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican), and Aaron Burr (Democratic-Republican). Burr and Jefferson end up tying and the vote had to go to the House of Representatives. The House voted for Jefferson, electing him as the 3rd President. This is significant because this was the first time more than 2 people ran in an election, and the first time the candidates tied. This election set the precedent for a peaceful transition of power and also the flaws set a precedent for the 12th amendment.

Source: https://guides.loc.gov/presidential-election-1800#:~:text=Thomas%20Jefferson%20(Democratic%2DRepublican),%2Dthree%20to%20sixty%2Dfive.

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This event was caused by Marbury claiming that Madison did not deliver his commission to be appointed as a federal judge. This was illegal and violated the Judiciary Act of 1789. This is significant because it established Judicial Review, making the supreme court eligible to  declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.

Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Marbury-v-Madison#:~:text=the%20federal%20judiciary%3F-,Marbury%20v.,and%20therefore%20null%20and%20void.

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This land purchase was made by Thomas Jefferson from the French during his presidency for $15 million. Jefferson bought 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River. He was very conflicted when making this purchase since he follows the Constitution strictly and it did not state he could purchase land. He bought it anyways, but it was the best thing he could have done. The Americans were very happy with Jefferson for this purchase. This is significant because the states doubled and got to expand more west.

Source: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/louisiana-purchase-treaty#:~:text=In%20this%20transaction%20with%20France,size%2C%20expanding%20the%20nation%20westward.

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The Lewis and Clark Expedition (May 14, 1804)

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The Lewis and Clark Expedition (May 14, 1804)

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This event started when Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis to explore lands west of the Mississippi River, which America just obtained through the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis took William Clark with him on the expedition that was approximately 8,000 miles and was very very rough, but however very successful and helped immensely. This expedition is significant because it provided new geological, ecological, and cultural about previously uncharted areas of North America.

Source:https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/lewis-and-clark

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This event started when the Chesapeake set sail to the Mediterranean. During this time one of the British ships, the HMS Leopard, saw this as a great time to get revenge. The British asked to search the ship, and when they weren't granted access the British commander fired at them, killing 3 Americans and wounding 18 others. The British then seized the ship and got what they were after. This event was significant because it showed the degrading relationship between the British and Americans and is what helped lead to the war of 1812.

Source: https://www.nps.gov/articles/chesapeake-leopard-affair.htm#:~:text=In%20June%201807%2C%20the%20Chesapeake,and%20aimed%20to%20take%20revenge.

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The Embargo Act of 1807 (December 22, 1807)

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The Embargo Act of 1807 (December 22, 1807)

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This act banned American exports to other countries. The Americans did this hoping it would hurt the British and other Europeans, but it ended up backfiring and hurting them more. The embargo was eventually lifted in 1809. This is significant because it closed the American economy in effort to show the French and British we could rely on our own good and be independent.

Source: https://connecticuthistory.org/connecticut-and-the-embargo-act-of-1807/#:~:text=President%20Thomas%20Jefferson%20hoped%20that,and%20stop%20impressing%20American%20seamen.

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This election was between Charles Pickney (Federalist) and James Madison (Democratic-Republican). Madison won easily by a landslide. This election was significant because this was the first of two instances where a new president is selected, but the incumbent vice-president won re-election.

Source: https://www.270towin.com/1808_Election/

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This war was caused by the British policy of Impressment, where they would seize US ships and draft our sailors into the British military, as well as the British gaining the support of the Native Americans. Many Americans did want to go to war, but a group of War Hawks was all in. The Americans were very unprepared for this war but fought anyways. This war is significant because in the end we gained respect from the British and French, as well as raising National Pride in the States.

Source: https://smarthistory.org/seeing-america-2/perry-war-1812/#:~:text=Key%20points,strength%20of%20the%20United%20States.

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Washington DC  is Burned (August 24, 1814)

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Washington DC  is Burned (August 24, 1814)

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During the war of 1812 British troops entered Washington DC and burned down the White House in retaliation for the American attack on Yoko. By the time they got there they realized that Madison and his first lady, Dolly, had already fled.  Dolly was able to grab the portrait of George Washington before the flee and saved it from being burned, and to this day it is still in the new White House. This event was significant because the White House was not able to be saved and burned down, showing the ruthlessness of the British.

Source: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-troops-set-fire-to-the-white-house

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This treaty ended the fighting between The Americans and the British but did not address issues of British Impressment or shipping rights. They settled that all conquered territory would be returned and they planned to settle the boundary between Canada and the US. This was significant because it finally ended the war of 1812.

Source: https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/treaty-of-ghent

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This battle was led by Andrew Jackson to gain control of a critical port in the US. The American troops were able to defeat the Native American tribes that supported the British. This battle was significant because the Americans won the battle even though they were outnumbered 2-1. The victory came after the war was over and Jackson became a war hero.

Source: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/war-1812/battles/new-orleans#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20achieved%20its,Andrew%20Jackson%20to%20national%20fame.

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This election was between James Monroe (Democratic-Republican) and Rufus King (Federalist). Monroe won easily. This was a significant event because this was the last time there would be a Federalist candidate.

Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1816