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The Battle of Lexington and Concord was the first major military engagement between the British Army and Patriot militias from the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War. -
It was signed to declare the 13 American colonies independent from Great Britain, to explain their reasons for separation, and to secure foreign alliances, especially with France, to aid in the war effort. The delegates signed the document, which listed grievances against King George III, to formally sever political ties with the British Crown and establish themselves as a new, free nation. -
a period of intense hardship for George Washington's Continental Army, marked by starvation, disease, and exposure. Despite the severe conditions, the army's resilience, Washington's leadership, and the arrival of Baron von Steuben, who trained the troops, transformed it from a collection of militias into a more disciplined and professional fighting force. -
The ratification established the Congress of the Confederation and served as the nation's first constitution until the U.S. Constitution was implemented in 1789. -
American and French forces, led by George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, cornered British General Lord Cornwallis's army in Yorktown, Virginia. A key part of the victory was a French naval blockade in the Chesapeake Bay that prevented British ships from reinforcing or evacuating Cornwallis. After a siege, Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781
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The phrase "The Treaty of Paris is signed" most famously refers to the 1783 treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, which was signed on September 3, 1783. This specific treaty formally recognized the independence of the United States and set its boundaries, allowing for western expansion. Other treaties named the "Treaty of Paris" were signed at different times, such as the 1898 treaty ending the Spanish-American War or the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. -
The U.S. Constitution was ratified when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it, making it the official framework for the U.S. government. This followed months of debate and a contentious ratification process, with Delaware being the first state to ratify it on December 7, 1787. The new government officially began operating on March 4, 1789. -
The first inauguration of George Washington as the first president of the United States was held on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City. The inauguration was held nearly two months after the beginning of the first four-year term of George Washington as president. -
when Virginia became the 11th state to approve the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. This provided the necessary three-fourths majority for the amendments to become law, establishing fundamental rights and freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. -
The Whiskey Rebellion was a violent tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington. The so-called "whiskey tax" was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government. -
Washington's Farewell Address is a letter written by President George Washington as a valedictory to "friends and fellow-citizens" after 20 years of public service to the United States. He wrote it near the end of the second term of his presidency before retiring to his home at Mount Vernon in Virginia -
George Washington's Hard Death Shows the Limits of Medicine ...George Washington's death was caused by a severe throat infection, most likely acute bacterial epiglottitis, which led to suffocation. He became ill after riding horseback in cold weather and developed a sore throat that quickly worsened, making it difficult for him to breathe. Doctors at the time also used ineffective treatments, such as bleeding and blistering, which may have worsened his condition. -
The 1800 presidential election did not have a single "election day" like modern elections. Instead, voting occurred over several months, and the final winner, Thomas Jefferson, was chosen by the House of Representatives on February 17, 1801, after 36 ballots. This was due to a constitutional crisis caused by a tie in the Electoral College between Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, which the House had to resolve -
Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137, was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that established the principle of judicial review, meaning that American courts have the power to strike down laws and statutes they find to violate the Constitution of the United States.