Founding Fathers Timeline Due: Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:59pmDue: Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:59pm
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British troops marched to seize colonial weapons and arrest leaders, but were met by the colonial militia. The fighting started in Lexington, where the first shots were fired, followed by a larger engagement at Concord's North Bridge. The British were ultimately forced into a chaotic and heavily harassed retreat back to Boston, with heavy casualties on both sides. -
The Declaration of Independence was signed primarily on August 2, 1776, in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House, which is now known as Independence Hall. While the document was adopted on July 4, 1776, it took time for a final, official parchment copy to be created and for most of the 56 delegates to sign it. -
The Continental Army, though suffering from harsh conditions, was transformed into a more disciplined and professional fighting force thanks to the training provided by Baron von Steuben. Despite a lack of supplies and high death rates, the training enabled the army to stand up to the British in later battles. -
They established the first government of the United States, but this new government was very weak because it lacked the power to tax and enforce laws. The ratification process was delayed for nearly four years after being adopted by Congress because of disputes among the states, particularly over land claims, before the final state, Maryland, gave its approval. -
Led to the British surrender of a major army under General Charles Cornwallis and effectively ended the American Revolutionary War -
To officially end the American Revolutionary War. It was signed by representatives from the United States and Great Britain and formally recognized the independence of the United States, setting the boundaries for the new nation. and granting it significant territory. -
When New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it, it became the official law of the land. The ratification process, which began in December 1787, required approval from nine of the 13 states for the new government to take effect. -
It was held on the portico of Federal Hall, where he took the oath of office before delivering his inaugural address to the public -
The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791, when Virginia became the 11th state to approve it, creating the three-fourths majority needed for it to become law. This completed the ratification process for the first 10 of the 12 amendments proposed by Congress in 1789, establishing fundamental liberties in the United States Constitution. -
An uprising by farmers in western Pennsylvania against a federal excise tax on whiskey, and the government's response was a decisive show of force by President George Washington. To quell the rebellion, Washington assembled a militia of about 13,000 troops, which dispersed the rebels and established the new federal government's authority to enforce its laws. The rebellion is considered a major test of the young United States' government and its power. -
It was a printed document, not a speech, and was published in a newspaper in September 1796, announcing his decision to step down and warning against political factionalism, excessive debt, and foreign entanglements. While he was assisted by others like Alexander Hamilton in its creation, the document is considered a written "political testament" for future generations of Americans -
died from a throat infection on December 14, 1799, after a day of riding in bad weather, which led to his illness. A contributing factor to his death was the medical treatment he received, which included extensive bloodletting, or the removal of about 40 percent of his blood, as doctors attempted to cure him. Modern medical experts believe his symptoms were caused by a bacterial infection like acute epiglottitis. -
A tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, forcing the House of Representatives to decide the presidency. This tie occurred because the Constitution at the time did not distinguish between votes for president and vice president, and both men were in the same party and received the same number of electoral votes. The crisis was ultimately resolved when the House elected Jefferson as president after 36 ballots. -
It arose from outgoing President John Adams appointing several Federalist judges in his final days, an act that became known as the "midnight judges". The case is most famous for establishing the principle of judicial review Court's power to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional. When the new administration under President Thomas Jefferson refused to deliver the undelivered commission to William Marbury, He sued, asking the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus.