| 1629 | Massachusetts Bay Charter: freedom of religion, English rights |
| 1682 | PA Frame of Gov’t: freedom of religion, no taxation w/o representation, due process |
| 1701 | PA Charter of Liberties: unicameral legislature; council for rich, assemb for small landowners |
| 1776-80 | VA State Constitution (Decl. of Rights): religion, speech, press, search
and seizure, jury trial (Mason)
MA State Constitution: executive veto, bicameral legislature PA and GA: unicameral, wide white male franchise |
| 1777 | Articles of Confederation: states rights, unicameral congress, no fed. taxation, requisitions from states |
| 1785 | Land Ordinance for Northwest Territory establishes “Jefferson’s’ grid. Resolves land disputes. |
| 1785-89 | Jefferson in Paris |
| 1786 | Shays’ Rebellion (MA) |
| 1787 | Northwest Ordinance: 60,000 pop. = apply for statehood, bill of rights,
prohibits slavery (N of Ohio Riv)
Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia produces Constitution: (Beard, Bailyn, Wood) Virginia plan (Madison, Randolph): bicameral, popular vote and state assemblies, both proportional executive chosen by Congress, power over states Franklin Committee: states equally rep in Senate, House initiate money bills, 3/5 rule also: slave trade to 1808, electoral college, taxation, commerce, etc... Federalist Papers, Madison, Hamilton, Jay |
| 1789 | Washington/ Adams
Judiciary Act: Supreme Court, mandamus (see Marbury v. Madison) Tariff French Revolution begins |
| 1790-91 | Hamilton’s Reports: Credit, Banking, Manufacturing
funded debt, assumption (approved- by agreeing to move capital) Bank of the United States [BUS] (approved- using implied powers argument) increase manufacturing for self-sufficiency and employment (denied) Hamiltonians (Federalists) Jeffersonians (Democratic Republicans)- see party chart federal power states rights merchant capitalist/tariff farmer/anti-tariff creditor/ currency control debtor/ inflation bank/credit/ funded debt balanced budget assumption at full value assumption as lower market value (Madison) industry/fav. balance of trade agricultural export/ import manuf. goods pro-British pro-French |
| 1793 | France declares war on Britain: British blockade French West Indies
Reign of Terror in French Revolution. Feds associate Republicans with Jacobins |
| 1794 | Whiskey Rebellion: PA farmers protest whiskey tax. Wash. and Hamilton march. Protesters disappear. Contributes to mutual paranoia on both sides (Fed and Rep) |
| 1795 | Jay Treaty: British had refused to vacate forts in NW Territories:
Jay gets GB to vacate, permit access of mall ships to West
Indies. British continue to seize ships and “impress” sailors.
Leads to party split with Republicans Pinckney’s Treaty (San Lorenzo): right from Spain to load goods at New orleans w/o duties. Open Miss. Riv |
| 1796 | Washington warns against factions and foreign entanglements in farewell address (isolationism) |
| 1796 | Adams/Jefferson
Adams and Hamilton (supporting Pinckney) feud results in Jefferson’s vice-presidency gradual falling out (trivia: both die on July 4, 1826 at 91 and 83) Adams establishes Federalist control of Judiciary |
| 1797-9 | Quasi-War with France: France seizes US ships
XYZ affair with Tallyrand’s deputies: US arms (GW in charge with Hamilton second-in-command) Napoleon becomes leader: Convention of Mortefontaine ends war; treaties of 1778 null, restrictions lifted |
| 1798 | Alien and Sedition Acts:
Alien Enemies Law: Presidential war powers, detention and deportation of foreigners Alien Law: Expel foreigners by decree Naturalization law: 14 year probation for immigrants before citizenship (presage Know Nothings) Sedition Act: criticism of gov’t is libel, tried by federal judiciary Midnight appointments of Adams leads to Marbury v. Madison (Marshall, Chief Justice to 1835) |
| 1800 | Jefferson/Burr
Adams and Hamilton feud results in Jefferson’s victory (Federalist lame duck House decides bet. Burr and Jeff) results in 12th Amendment Jeffersonians: reduce size and cost of gov’t, military, debt, repeal Alien and Sedition Acts, repeal taxes Federalists gradually lose strength due to unpopularity of Adams presidency and broadening of Republican base under “Virginia Dynasty” |
| 1803 | Louisiana Purchase: 1801 Spain gives to France; 1802 Spain closes
N.O. to US ships (break Pinckney Treaty)
Livingston and Monroe negotiate Purchase for $15 mill. |
| 1804 | Louisiana Gov’t Bill: taxes with an appointed government (!)
Lewis and Clark explore the Missouri River |
| 1807 | Embargo Act: “peaceable coercion” of Europeans to respect US neutrality
In attempting to secure free trade (to support exports for agrarian production), Jefferson ironically encourages the growth of domestic manufactures (a Hamiltonian goal), and is compelled to regulate economy with police powers of state |
| 1808 | Madison/G. Clinton |
| 1809 | Embargo Act repealed |
| 1811 | BUS permitted to expire
Harrison routs Tecumseh at Tippecanoe under mistaken suspicion that British were encouraging indian resistance to US settlement in Indiana Territory War Hawks call for mobilization for war with Britain |
| 1812 | War with Britain over neutrality, maritime right, impressment, and territorial issues |
| 1814 | Jackson and Battle of New Orleans/ (Trivia: Battle of Baltimore produces
Star-Spangled banner)
War ends with Treaty of Ghent with no resolution of impressment, neutrality or territorial issues results in rise in nationalism Hartford Convention: Embargo and War lead New England Federalists to consider calling for changes in Constitution, such as eliminating 3/5ths rule, limiting presidential terms (to end “VA dynasty”), and requiring 2/3 majority for war, commercial regulations and admission of new states. “Victory” in New Orleans and Treaty permit Republicans to paint Convention as wild secessionists. final end of Federalists |
| 1816 | Monroe/Tompkins: “era of good feelings” in absence of functioning two
party system
Second BUS |
| 1819 | Dartmouth College v. New Hampshire: Marshall establishes inviolability
of contract. Daniel Webster argues that NH violated Dartmouth charter in
declaring D. public. Protect private property from state.
McCulloch v. Maryland: Marshal extends implied powers doctrine to protect BUS branch from Maryland taxes. (“loose constructionist” interpretation of power over fiscal matters) |
| 1824 | Gibbons v. Ogden: Marshall establishes broad interpretation of Interstate Commerce clause by denying the right of NY to give monopoly for steamboat travel to Ogden (Fulton/Livingston company). Within its sphere, Congress is supreme over States |