The Declaration of Independence is written, approved, and officially issued.
The Articles of Confederation are approved, basing American government on cooperation between the states. Congress is empowered to negotiate treaties, but has few other responsibilities.
A national convention called to strengthen the Articles of Confederation develops the U.S. Constitution instead, defining a new system of American government. The powers of Congress are broadened. Congress forms the legislative branch of the new government, and the Supreme Court forms the judicial branch. An executive branch is introduced and will be led by an elected official, the president. The president and vice president are to be inaugurated on March 4 of the year following their election (a date that remains in practice until 1933, when the Twentieth Amendment is ratified, changing inauguration day to January 20).
Three of the original thirteen colonies— Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey —ratify the Constitution, thereby becoming the first three states of the Union.
Eight of the original thirteen colonies— Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, and New York —ratify the Constitution, thereby becoming the fourth through eleventh states of the Union. The Constitution becomes law when New Hampshire is the ninth state to ratify it (two-thirds majority of the thirteen states had to approve the Constitution for it to become legally binding).
One of the original thirteen colonies— North Carolina —ratifies the Constitution, thereby becoming the twelfth state of the Union.
The first presidential election is held. Voting is done by electors appointed by each state, and the number of electors are based on the state's population. Each elector votes for two candidates. Whomever finishes with the most votes becomes president, and whomever finishes second becomes vice president.
Revolutionary War hero George Washington is elected president, receiving votes from each elector.
The French Revolution begins.
George Washington is inaugurated in New York City. A site for the national capital is selected along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., and the federal government will be situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, until the new capital is completed.
One of the original thirteen colonies— Rhode Island — ratifies the Constitution, thereby becoming the thirteenth state of the Union.
Political factions solidify. Federalists, who support a strong federal government, are led by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, and Anti-Federalists, who support limited federal power and strong states' rights, are led by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.
Vermont becomes the fourteenth state of the Union.
President George Washington is reelected unanimously.
Kentucky becomes the fifteenth state of the Union.
American forces defeat a confederacy of Native American tribes at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in Ohio, opening up the midwest for settlement.
When Vice President John Adams finishes first and former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson finishes second in the presidential election, two men with conflicting political views and affiliations serve as president and vice president. Political parties—the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans—become established.
Tennessee becomes the sixteenth state of the Union.
The United States engages in an undeclared naval war with France.
Federalists in Congress pass and President John Adams signs into law the Alien and Sedition Acts. The laws, which expand the powers of the federal government, prove unpopular and bolster the prospects of anti-Federalists.
The seat of government moves from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington, D.C.; President John Adams and first lady Abigail Adams move into the White House (officially called The Executive Mansion until 1900).
In the presidential election, Vice President Thomas Jefferson and former New York senator Aaron Burr (both of the Democratic-Republican Party) finish tied with the most electoral votes. The election is decided in the House of Representatives, where Jefferson prevails after thirty-six rounds of voting.
The historic Marbury v. Madison decision strengthens the role of the U.S. Supreme Court to decide constitutional issues.
The Louisiana Purchase more than doubles the size of the United States.
Ohio becomes the seventeenth state of the Union.
The Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution mandates that electors must distinguish between whom they vote for president and vice president (to avoid repeating the problem of the 1800 election, where most voters selected both Jefferson and Burr with their two votes).
President Thomas Jefferson wins reelection. He selects a new running mate, New York governor George Clinton, to replace Vice President Aaron Burr.
After losing an election for governor of New York, outgoing vice president Aaron Burr kills former U.S. secretary of the treasury Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Hamilton had influenced voters against Burr in the presidential campaign of 1800 and during Burr's campaign to be governor of New York in 1804.
The Lewis and Clark expedition, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, is completed when explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark return to St. Louis, Missouri, after having traveled northwest to the Pacific Ocean.
President Thomas Jefferson institutes an embargo on shipping to England and France, attempting to pressure the nations to respect American rights at sea. The embargo is unsuccessful and unpopular.
Former vice president Aaron Burr is tried and acquitted on charges of treason.
Secretary of State James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution," is elected president. Vice President George Clinton campaigns and places third as a member of the Independent Republican Party after having accepted Madison's offer to continue in his role as vice president.
At the Battle of Tippecanoe, American forces (led by future president William Henry Harrison) overwhelm a Native American confederacy led by Shawnee chief Tecumseh.
Vice President George Clinton casts the tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate (a responsibility of the vice president under the U.S. Constitution) against rechartering the National Bank, and against President James Madison's wishes.
War of 1812 (1812-15) begins.
President James Madison is reelected.
Louisiana becomes the eighteenth state of the Union.
After having suffered military defeats in Canada, U.S. naval forces win control of the Great Lakes.
British military forces burn the White House and the Capitol during the War of 1812.
The Battle of New Orleans, where American forces (led by future president Andrew Jackson) rout a superior British force, occurs after an armistice was agreed on, but news had not yet reached Louisiana. The War of 1812 officially ends a month later.
Secretary of State James Monroe is elected president. The "Era of Good Feelings" begins: the war is over, America is expanding, and Monroe is a popular president.
Indiana becomes the nineteenth state of the Union.
President James Monroe moves into an incompletely reconstructed White House.
Mississippi becomes the twentieth state of the Union.
Illinois becomes the twenty-first state of the Union.
Alabama becomes the twenty-second state of the Union.
Bank Panic slows economic growth.
President James Monroe is reelected by winning every state. One elector casts a vote for John Quincy Adams as a symbolic gesture to ensure that George Washington remains the only president to win all electoral votes in an election.
The Missouri Compromise sets a boundary (the southern border of present-day Missouri ): slavery is not permitted north of that boundary for any prospective territory hoping to enter the Union.
Maine, formerly part of Massachusetts, becomes the twenty-third state of the Union.
Missouri becomes the twenty-fourth state of the Union.
In his annual message to Congress, President James Monroe introduces what will become known as the Monroe Doctrine. Although not very significant at the time, the Doctrine, which warns European nations against expansionist activities in the Americas, sets a foreign policy precedent several later presidents will invoke.
Electoral votes are based on the popular vote for the first time. Tennessee senator Andrew Jackson bests Secretary of State John Quincy Adams with over 45,000 more popular votes and a 99-84 Electoral College lead, but does not win a majority of electoral votes, split among four candidates. The election is decided in Adams's favor by the House of Representatives. The support of powerful Speaker of the House Henry Clay, who finished fourth in the election, helps sway the House in favor of Adams. When Adams names Clay his secretary of state, Jackson supporters claim a "corrupt bargain" had been forged between Adams and Clay.
John Quincy Adams is the fourth straight and last president from the Democratic-Republican Party, which held the White House from 1800 to 1829. The party splits into factions around Adams and his election opponent, Andrew Jackson (called Jacksonian Democrats), respectively.
Former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson die on.....
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