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Virginia Declaration of Rights
The Virginia Declaration of Rights establishes the fundamental principles of free government in natural rights. Rather than demanding mere equality with other British subjects, it reasons from universal natural rights. Mason drafted the Declaration and three weeks before the Declaration of Independence, a state convention approved it. It remains part of the current Virginia Constitution.
http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/virginia-declaration-of-rights -
Ratification of Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation is an important document in American history because it united the individual states and established the federal government. It defined the law of the United States from 1781 until the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1789.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/articles-of-confederation-are-ratified -
Treaty of Paris
It officially ended the Revolutionary War. Under the terms of the treaty, Britain recognized the independent nation of the United States of America. Britain agreed to remove all of its troops from the new nation. The treaty also set new borders for the United States, including all land from the Great Lakes on the north to Florida on the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/treaty-of-paris -
Land Ordinance of 1785
It was a very important law that was developed by the government while the Articles of Confederation was our plan of government. This law helped to organize the sale of western lands. Another important element of this law is that it generated revenue for the government. Since the federal government didn’t have the power to levy taxes, selling western land was a good source of revenue.
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Land_Ordinance_of_1785 -
Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the General Assembly on January 16, 1786, before being signed into law three days later. The statute affirms the rights of Virginians to choose their faiths without coercion; separates church and state; and, while acknowledging the right of future assemblies to change the law.
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-02-02-0132-0004-0082 -
Shays’ Rebellion
Shays’s Rebellion was a rebellion among farmers in Massachusetts that began in 1786. The rebellion is important because it is seen as one of the major factors that led to the writing of the new Constitution.This rebellion, along with other factors, helped to persuade rich Americans that a new constitution was needed because they were scared that government would be dominated by poorer people.
http://www.history.com/topics/shays-rebellion -
Constitutional Convention
The country had been governed under the 1781 Articles of Confederation since independence from Britain, but this was causing problems. The purpose of the Convention was to fix these problems. The result was the United States Constitution and its adoption as the instrument of government for the USA.
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/ -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Northwest Ordinance was important for two major reasons. The first of these was that it banned slavery in the territories of the Northwest. This ensured that these would be free states when they entered the Union. But that is not the most important thing about this law. The most important thing is that it created a system whereby territories could become states.
https://ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=8 -
Ratification of Constitution
The Revolution was in trouble. The confederation form of government was failing: it could not pay its bills. Something had to be done! The constitution set up all the necessities of the government . It was an important document that brought all of the states together and established the principles of how the government was to operate.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-constitution-ratified -
French Revolution
The French Revolution had an impact on the politics and laws of the United States. It was also a primary push behind the passing of Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798.When the other European powers went to war with France in 1793, however, both parties agreed that taking sides would lead to economic devastation and potential invasion for the country. The United States then stayed neutral with heavy pressure from both sides
http://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution -
George Washington Inauguration
George Washington is sworn in as the first American president and delivers the first inaugural speech at Federal Hall in New York City. George Washington is one of the most significant American historical figures, not only for his role in founding and governing the young nation, but for his leadership style, political ideas and revolutionary visions for the US.
https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/gw-inauguration/ -
Pinckney Treaty
The treaty established friendship between the US and Spain. It defined the boundaries of the United States and Spanish colonies. It gave the U.S. navigation rights on the Mississippi River.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/pickney-treaty -
Whiskey Rebellion
It lasted 1791 – 1794. It was a rebellion when the government decided to tax whiskey in order to pay off the national debt.The Whiskey Rebellion was a significant event in American history because it proved that the U.S. government was willing and able to suppress violent opposition with military force. The events during this rebellion also played a significant role in the development of political parties.
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-whiskeyrebellion.html -
Jay Treaty
Jay's Treaty helped us normalize relations with Britain after the Revolutionary War. Britain was still fighting with France and trade between the new US and Europe was threatened. The treaty made it possible for American ships to trade with both England and France, and this was very important because export was a huge business for the US.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/jay-treaty -
Treaty of Greenville
It was signed at Fort Greenville, Ohio. It ended the Northwest Indian War in the Ohio Country and limited strategic parcels of land to the north and west.It expanded American territory westward, but it also fomented Native American resentment.
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Treaty_of_Greeneville_(1795) -
Washington Farewell
It was one of the most influential statements of American political values.Drafted primarily by Washington himself, with help from Hamilton, it gives advice on the necessity and importance of national union, the value of the Constitution and the rule of law, the evils of political parties, and the proper virtues of a republican people.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/17d.asp -
Election of 1796
It was held from November 4 December 7, 1796. It was the first contested American presidential election and the only one in which a president and vice president were elected from opposing tickets. It was important because was the first major political contest between Republicans and Federalists.
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=2976 -
XYZ affair
The XYZ affair was an unsuccessful diplomatic mission that contributed to hostilities between the U.S. and France at the end of the 18th century. In 1793, a war broke out between Great Britain and France. Both countries wanted the support of the U.S., but the US signed Jays Treaty. French thought it was a violation of their treaty and went on to seize a substantial number of American merchant ships.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/xyz -
Alien and Sedition Acts
They were four bills passed by the Federalist-dominated 5th United States Congress. They stated no protesting the government, no immigrants allowed in, no freedom of the press and Lawmakers jailed. They were important because they were one of the worst violations of the First Amendment in the history of the United States. They could have seriously damaged America's democratic society in such an infant state of the country.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/19e.asp -
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (or Resolves) were political statements drafted in 1798 and 1799, in which the Kentucky and Virginia legislatures took the position that the federal Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. Therefore, the federal government had no right to exercise powers not specifically delegated to it
http://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/primary-source-documents/virginia-and-kentucky-resolutions/ -
Quasi War
An undeclared war between the United States and France, the Quasi-War was the result of disagreements over treaties and America's status as a neutral in the Wars of the French Revolution. It pushed the nation to think about the limit of the residents power and the role of the military in America.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/xyz -
Election of 1800
There are two major reasons why it was significant in American history: first is marked a change in power from Washington to Adams and second it was seen as a turning point is that it marked the start of a turn toward more democracy.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/20a.asp
