-
George Washington Inaugurated 1789
The inauguration of Washington was held on April 30, 1789 on the balcony of Federal Hall in NYC. The chancellor of NY, Robert Livingston, administered the presidential oath of office. The executive branch officially began operations under the new form of government established by the 1787 Constitution. John Adams served as vice president. -
Judiciary Act of 1789
This act fully described the federal court system. The supreme court is placed at the highest level under leadership of the Chief Justice and five associate justices. The act left Congress the authority to create lower federal courts as needed. -
Bill of Rights Ratified 1791
The 12 amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were designed by Congress to protect basic rights of citizens. On December 15, 1791, Virginia became the 10th of 14 states to approve 10 of the 12 amendments giving the Bill of Rights 2/3 majority of state ratification to make it the law of the land. One of the two not ratified was eventually ratified in 1992 and the other never was. -
Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)
Enforced in Washington's second term that stated that the US would remain neutral and would trade with all nations. The proclamation set the precedent for presidents to avoid war at all costs. This was enforced to declare neutrality between the current conflict between France and Great Britain and threatened to punish any citizen who would provide assistance to another country at war. -
Whiskey Rebellion 1794
Farmers in PA rebelled against Hamilton's excess tax on Whiskey. Washington sent the army to PA to put down the rebellion quickly. This event showed how a strong central government under the constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem. -
Jay's Treaty 1794
This treaty was created with England to avoid war but the negotiations were sabotaged by Alexander Hamilton which left the US with a bad deal. Britain was to pay for American ships that were seized in 1793. America was to pay British merchants debts owed from before the revolution while Britain agreed to remove troops from the Ohio Valley. -
Pinckey's Treaty 1795
An agreement between the US and Spain that changed the borders of Florida to make it to the New Orleans Port. The treaty established commercial arrangements favorable to the US. Citizens were given free navigation of the Mississippi River through Spanish territory. -
Land Act of 1796
With the passing of this land act, Congress encouraged rapid settlement of the lands gained by the Jay Treaty and Battle of the Fallen Timbers. It established orderly procedures for dividing and settling federal lands at reasonable prices. The act authorized the sale of federal lands in sections consisting of 640 acres each for a price of two dollars an acre which reduced the price of the land while increasing the minimum acreage allowed for each sale. -
XYZ Affair 1797-1798
John Adams sends an envoy to France, including John Marshall, where supposed to meet the French foreign minister, Talleyrand, but instead were sent 3 officials Adams called "X, Y, and Z" that demanded $250,000 as a bribe to see Talleyrand, and a very large amount of money to the French harassment. -
Election of 1800
Jefferson and Burr tied in the number of electoral votes. Hamilton, who despised Burr, helped Jefferson get elected with his support which led to conflict between Burr and Hamilton. This was significant because political power was shifted between parties peacefully. -
Judicary Act of 1801
One of the last important laws passed by the expiring Federalist Congress and Adams' last attempt to keep Federalists power in the new Republican Congress. Adams' goal was for federalists to dominate the judicial branch of government. The act created 16 new federal judgeships and other judicial offices.