Time Line

Shay’s Rebellion

An uprising in 1786 by disgruntled Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting in Philadelphia from May to September 1787 to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Ratification of the Constitution

The process by which the states approved the new Constitution, with New Hampshire being the 9th state in June 1788.

George Washington

The 1st President of the United States, inaugurated in April 1789.

Cotton Gin

Invented by Eli Whitney in 1793, it revolutionized cotton harvesting and led to a cotton boom in the South.

Whiskey Rebellion

A 1794 uprising against tax on whiskey, quelled by President Washington through martial law.

XYZ Affair

A 1797 diplomatic incident in which French officials demanded bribes from U.S. diplomats.

Quasi-War with France

An unresolved conflict at sea between the U.S. and France from 1798 to 1800.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Laws passed in 1798 aimed at restricting immigration and limiting criticism of the government.

Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, which doubled the size of the U.S.

Marbury v. Madison

A landmark Supreme Court case in 1803 that established the principle of judicial review.

Embargo Act of 1807

A law prohibiting U.S. ships from sailing to foreign ports, aimed at avoiding conflict.

War Hawks

Members of Congress in 1811 pushing for war against Great Britain.

Battle of Tippecanoe

A 1811 battle between U.S. forces and Native Americans, leading to increased tensions.

War of 1812

A conflict between the U.S. and Great Britain declared by Congress in June 1812.

Treaty of Ghent

The peace treaty signed in December 1814, officially ending the War of 1812.

Second Bank of the United States

Established in 1816, it was a national bank chartered by Congress.

Missouri Compromise

An 1820 agreement admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining Senate balance.

Indian Removal Act

The 1830 legislation that authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes to west of the Mississippi.

Nat Turner’s Rebellion

A slave revolt in Virginia in 1831 led by Nat Turner, highlighting tensions over slavery.

Ordinance of Nullification

An 1832 South Carolina declaration asserting that states could nullify federal laws.

Telegraph

An invention by F.B. Morse in 1844 that revolutionized long-distance communication.