Civilisation - Semester two

1776 : The U.S. Declaration of Independence ---- The Second Continental Congress issued the declaration after voting for Independence. 1775 : The Beginning of The American Revolutionary War ---- The American War of Independence, a global war between Great Britain and its Thirteen Colonies. 1778 : Treaty of Alliance with France ---- France had officially recognized the U.S. as an independent nation and signed a defensive alliance. Later breached by the neutrality speech of George Washington (1793). 1783 : Treaty of Paris ---- Ended the American Revolutionary War. Great Britain relinquished large territories to America. Some key points of the treaty weren't honored (Britain didn't vacate Northwest forts and some states didn't restore loyalists' properties), these issues were later fixed with Jay's Treaty. 1789 : George Washington's Election ---- The first President of the United States. He was elected unanimously. His Vice President was John Adams. 1792 : George Washington's Re-election ---- President George Washington was re-elected unanimously. The Compromise of 1790 ---- Alexander Hamilton won the decision for the national government to take over and pay the state debts, while Thomas Jefferson & James Madison obtained the national capitol for the south (Washington DC). 1790-1840 : The Second Great Awakening ---- A protestant religious movement that affected The American religious identity a great deal. New religious denominations emerged. New social reform movements were established. The Federal Judiciary Act of 1789 ---- Congress provided the detailed organization of the courts that the Constitution mentioned only in general terms. John Jay was appointed First chief Justice by Washington. 1790-1791 : Hamilton's Financial Plan ---- The set of measures proposed by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to the Congress: - Paying off all war debts - Raise government revenues - Create a national bank 1793 : France declares war on Britain ---- (The French revolution) 1793 : George Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality ---- President George Washington declared the nation neutral in the conflict between France and Great Britain. 1793 : The Beginning of The British Impressment ---- The British started seizing American ships and forcing American sailors into military service claiming they were British citizens. 1795 : Jay Treaty ---- The treaty averted war between Britain and America, facilitated peaceful trade between them and resolved issues remaining since the Treaty of Paris 1783 (occupied forts and Loyalists' confiscated properties). This treaty angered France and divided Americans. 1796 : France Began Attacking American Ships ---- The French were infuriated by Jay’s Treaty, believing it violated the earlier treaty of Alliance between them (1778). as a result, they started attacking and seizing American ships. 1797 : John Adams' Election ---- His Vice President was Thomas Jefferson. 1797 : The XYZ Affair ---- President Adams dispatched Cotesworth Pinckney, John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry to France in an effort to restore peace. They were received by three agents (XYZ) asking them for a bribe and a loan in order to meet with the foreign minister. The Americans were irritted and wanted war. 1797 : Creation of The Navy Department ---- President Adams commissioned the building of 40 new ships. 1797 : Building up the Army ---- President Adams tripled the size of the army and called George Washington out of retirement to lead it. 1798 : American Navy Started Attacking French Ships ---- The newly created Navy hindered the French shipping and seized almost 90 ships. The Convention of 1800 (Treaty of Mortefontaine) ---- The Treaty settled the hostilities that followed the XYZ affair between America and France. It officially ended the Treaty of alliance with France (1778). 1798 : The Alien and Sedition Acts ---- Following the Quasi-war, the Federalist-controlled Congress passed a series of acts : - The naturalization act. - The Alien act. - The Sedition act. 1798-1799 : The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions ---- The Alien and sedition acts were met with resistance by Jefferson and Madison claiming that those acts were unconstitutional, so they passed resolutions asserting that the states can "Interpose" and "Nullify" those acts. The Revolution of 1800 (The Presidential Election of 1800) ---- The first ever peaceful transition of power, not through bloodshed (like it used to be) but through the ballot box. There was a tie between Jefferson and Burr so the House of Representatives had to vote, under the influence of Hamilton the house finally voted for Jefferson. To avoid similar situations, the 12th Amendment was issued to change the way elections were performed (1804). 1801 : The Midnight Appointments (The Judiciary act of 1801) ---- The night before the inauguration of President Jefferson, Adams expanded the number of judges and appointed Federalists in these new positions In an attempt to keep some power for the Federalist party. 1801 : Thomas Jefferson's Election 1805 : Thomas Jefferson's Re-election 1803 : The Louisiana Purchase ---- President Jefferson obtained Louisiana from Napoleon for $15 million, doubling the surface of the United States. 1787: The U.S. Constitution 1804-1806 : The Lewis & Clark Expedition ---- President Jefferson sent Lewis to explore the newly purchased Louisiana territory. Lewis and Clark were helped by a French trapper and his Indian wife Sacagawea who acted as interpreters. 1805 : Thomas Jefferson's Declatration of Neutrality ---- President Thomas Jefferson declared the nation neutral in the conflict between The French Empire and Great Britain. 1805 : The French Empire Began Seizing American Ships ---- The French ignored U.S. neutrality claims and seized American merchant ships. 1805: The British Intensified Their Impressment ---- Following Jefferson's demands to leave the US waters, Great Britain Intensified their impressment by taking alleged British navy deserters off American vessels and returning them to British service. 1807 : The Embargo Act ---- Following the British/French naval attacks, President Thomas Jefferson Issued the Embargo act forbidding all foreign commerce. 1809 : The Non-Intercourse Act ---- Following the failure of the Embargo act, President Thomas Jefferson Issued the Non-Intercourse act allowing commerce with all countries except Britain & France. 1809 : James Madison's Election 1813 : James Madison's Re-election Jun 18, 1812 : The United States Declared War on Britain ---- Due to the continuous Impressment, the British incitement of Indian tribes against the US and the desire to conquer Canada and eliminate the British influence once and for all. The US declared war on Britain. Aug 1812 : Failed Attempt to Invade Canada ---- The American campaign in Canada was a failure they had to retreat, and the British ended up occupying Detroit. Sep 1813 : The Battle of Lake Erie ---- Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry annihilates the British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie. Oct 1813 : General Harrison Reconquers Detroit ---- Upon Captain Perry's success, General William Henry Harrison reconquered Detroit, pushed into Canada and defeated the fleeing British and Indians on the Thames River. Aug 1814 : The British Burned Washington DC ---- British troops marched into Washington and burned it, President Madison flees to Virginia. Sep 1814 : The Battle of Lake Champlain ---- Commodore Thomas Macdonough defeats a British flotilla on Lake Champlain. Dec 1814 : The Treaty of Ghent ---- Americans and British diplomats agreed for the cessation of hostilities, the restoration of conquests and the settlement of boundary disputes. Dec 1814 : Hartford Convention ---- A secret meeting of Federalists in Hartford where they discussed their dissatisfaction with “Mr. Madison’s War” and even raised the possibility of secession. This marked the demise of the Federalist Party. Jan 1815 : The Battle of New Orleans ---- Unaware that the treaty of Ghent was signed, Andrew Jackson scored a great land victory against the British at New Orleans. The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) British Naval Impressment – 1793-1812 War of the First Coalition (1792-1798) (French Revolutionary Wars) George Washington's Presidency (1789 - 1797) John Adams' Presidency (1797 - 1801) The Quasi-War (1798-1800) (Undeclared War, France vs U.S.) Thomas Jefferson's Presidency (1801-1809) The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) (France & Allies vs Britain & Allies) James Madison's Presidency (1809-1817) The War of 1812 (1812-1815) (Between The U.S. and Britain)