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Congress of Albany
This marks the first instance of the colonies attempting to organize. The Congress was not entirely successful because the colonies distrusted unity and preferred to remain mostly independent. This suspicion of federal government carried on into the 1800s and played a major role in the antebellum period. -
The Great Compromise
A compromise that decided that the new Congress would have two houses; the Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate would have two representatives from each state and the House of Representatvies would be based on population. The state legislature would elect senators every 6 years, while the people would elect representatvies to the House of Representatives every 2 years. -
United States Consitution
The Consitution is the framework to how the federal government should be organized. It created three branches in the government; the judicial, executive, and legislative. It tells us the powers and limmits that each branch has. The Consitution also shows the laws and it also contains the Bill of Rights. -
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Washington's Presidency
Washington’s presidency set precedents for all of his successors. He set the two term limit, and brought respect to the government. He strove to prove that a democracy could work on a large scale. -
Judiciary Act of 1789
Congress had to create a Judiciary branch as stated in the Constitution, so they passed this act. It established the number of members of the Supreme Court (6), the number of lower district courts (13), and the idea that the Supreme Court can settle disputes between states -
The Indian Intercouse Act
This act stated that Congress would regulate all trade with Native AMericans and that the United States would acquire new western lands. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
Under Washington's Precidency there was a tax on whiskey which some farmers were not to happy with. They evenutally broke out in rebellion in Pennsylvania, leaving Washington to repsond by using military action. This was the first time the newly founded government had to use military force to stop a rebellion. -
Marbury v. Madison
This case was the first time the Supreme Court declared something as unconstitutional and created judicial review. This was that the idea that courts may oversee and nullify the actions of another branch of government. -
Spoils System
During the Jacksonian Democracy the spoils system was created which the presidents awarded the best appointments in the government to their freinds and supporters. This did not allow anyone else to be involved in the government except for the people who would support the president. -
Jackson Vetoes Maysville Road
Jackson vetoes the Maysville Road Project May 27, 1830
Jackson reaffirmed the belief that the federal government could only legislate interstate affairs. Because the Maysville Road project was within one state, Jackson left the responsibility of the project with that state. -
Laissez-Faire Policy
The government adopted a policy of "let things be" for business. This meant not putting restrictions on wages, prices or procedures for companies. Big businesses became much more profitable, but companies use this to take advantage of their laborers. -
Habeas Corpus and Martial Law
Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and installed martial law in the Border States during the Civil War. Drastic times call for drastic measures, and though Lincoln’s actions were unconstitutional, they protected the Border States from seceding. Lincoln cleared the way for successors to use drastic measures in times of war. -
Confederate States of America
Delegates from the first 7 secessionist states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Texas) met to form the government the Confederate States of America. They drafted a new consititution and elected Jefferson Davis as it's first president. -
Homestead Act of 1862
The Homestead Act of 1862 gave 160 acres of land to settlers in return for living on it for 5 years, improving it, and paying a fee of $30 dollors.
This shows a change in the government because before it would sell land for revenue, but are now giving it away for free. -
The 1862 Congress
The Congress of 1862 passed the following laws:
-The Morrill Tariff Act: to help Northern manufacturers by doubling the prewar tariff on imported goods
-The Legal Tender Act: to create a stable national currency
-The National Banking Act: to strengthen banks and enforce the Legal Tender Act
Thses acts gave the government an abnormal power over the economy. -
Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction
Lincoln declared his postwar vision for reunification in this Proclamation which stated:
-the pardoning of all Confederates who signed an oath of allegiance to the United States, excluding government and military leaders
-the recognition of any Southern state government
-the return of political rights and land confiscated by the federal government to the Confederate after they recieved pardons and accepted emancipation
Lincoln was trying to reunify the federal government and he did so with this. -
Transcontinental Railroad Finsihed
The Union Pacific from the East and the Central Pacific from the West came together to build the Transcontinental Railroad. The two ends of the railroad met in Promontory, Utah. -
Wabash v Illinois
In this controversial case, the Supreme Court ruled that states did not have the power to regulate interstate commerce. When state lines were crossed, it was under the federal government's power. -
Interstate Commerce Act
An act passed by Congress that required railroads to publish their rates. This was to prevent kickbacks and unfair discounts. It also prohibited pools. The ICC (Interstate Commerce Commision) was created to enfore these rules. This law was made for farmers who were forced to pay railroad rates in order to make any profit. It asserted that the federal government would step in when the states could not. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
The government asserted it's power by granting itself the power to break up monopolies and trusts that are too powerful. This act was used against labor unions more than trusts. -
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
It allowed the Treasury to buy 4.5 million ounces of silver monthly and pay for it in notes redeemable in silver or gold.
This was a role that the government had during this time period -
Pullman Strike
When the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago cut wages by a third, violence errupted. The government called in the federal troops to stop the worker's strike. President Cleveland defended his decision by saying, "If it takes the entire army and navy to deliver a postal card in Chicago, that card will be delivered." -
Big Stick Policy
"Speak softly and carry a big stick" was Roosevelt's policy on foreign affairs. He used diplomacy, but made it clear that America was willing to use forceif necessary. Before, American would use powerful allies to intimidate other countries. After building up a strong economy, military and navy, however, Roosevelt was able to assert America's place as a world power. -
The Roosevelt Corollary
This was Roosevelt's addition of the Monroe Doctrine. The United States would interfere in the western hemisphere in order to keep peace. Before the Corollary, the Doctrine was only defensive, by stopping colonization in the eastern hemisphere. The Monroe Doctrine gained power with the Roosevelt Corollary. -
Elkins Act and Hepburn Act
The Elkins Act prohibitted rebates. The Hepburn Act got rid of free passes on railroads and explanded the ICC by giving it more power becuase at this time the ICC had almost no power. -
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Taft Adjministration
President Howard Taft was not known as a trustbuster, yet he busted more trusts thanTR. One of Taft's most notable trustbusting incident involved US Steel. Major corporations were once above the law, but with the Presidencies of TR and Taft, no trust was safe. -
TR Busts the Trusts
The presidency of Theodore Roosevelt is known for bringing more power to the position of president. TR proved himself as a notorious trustbuster when he broke apart Standard Oil, a company of John D. Rockefeller. This sent a message to major corportations that no trust was above the law. -
Federal Reserve Act
The Federal Reserve Act created 12 regional banks which distributed more money to regulate the economy. The Federal Reserve Banks could also help other banks who were failing by lendung them money. -
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
The Clayton Anti-Trust Act created the Federal Trade COmmission which strengthened the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. This allowed the government to have the ability to break up trusts. It also did not allow unions to be porsecuted against trust laws. -
Espionage Act and Sedition Act
The Espionage Act restricted anti-war activities and the Sedition Act was a law against disloyal speech concerning the flag, government, and military. The government was now doing everything in it's power to ensure that no one would say anything against the war that the United States was now involved in. THis is backed up in the Supreme Court case Schenck v. US. -
Entering WWI
The United States entered WWI in 1917 and this was a new change for the government because the United States went from an isolationist country into an imperialistic country. This is because, unlike before, America was now getting invloved in foreign affairs/battles, -
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Great Depression
The Great Depression changed the role of the federal governemtn completely. The government focused on passing laws that focused on relief, recovery, and reform instead of focusing on foreign policy. -
The First New Deal
The First New Deal focused on relief and recovery and this changed the role of the federal government because it went from passing laws that dealt with foreign policy to laws that dealt with issues taking place during the Great Depression -
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Second New Deal
This deal focused on recovery and reform. Like the First New Deal, this changed the role of the government to focus more on domestic issues rather than foreign conflicts. -
Atomic Bomb
The making of the atomic bomb showed the world that the federal government was now doing whatever it could to protect its country. -
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World War 2
World War 2 brought the United States out of the Depression and made the governemtn focus on foreign issues. THe federal government was passing drafting laws, and other acts like the Neutrality Acts -
War Labor Board
Not only did it regulate labor during WWII for maximum production, the Board raised the wages of underpaid workers and enforced equal pay for black laborers. -
Rationing
The government rationed many foods as well as gasoline and rubber. This was due to shortages, because more labor was directed to war. It didn’t matter if an American had the money to pay for a product, they couldn’t buy it without a ration coupon. -
Japanese Internment
The federal government passed a law that made all Japanese citizens be imprisoned in camps. This was a very controversal issue because many European nations believed that America was being hypocritical. -
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The Red Scare
The Red Scare started because America did not trust the USSR. This caused the government to become very paranoid and passed laws that would make it easier for it to find spies. There really wasn't much need for these laws becuase not many spies were found. -
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Red Scare
Civil liberties were compromised during this mass hysteria. -
Creation of the CIA
The creation of the CIA shows how the government now was willing to do whatever it had to do to prevent communism from spending. This something meant ordering coups to take place. -
Massive Retaliation
States that if America is attacked it will respond with full force no matter how small the attack is. This shows how the foreign policies of the government was changing. -
Eisenhower Doctrine
This doctrine stated that the President could send military aid and/or troops to the Middle East to stop communisim from spreading. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This act passed by LBJ shows the change in the government that was happening in the 60's. The government was now passing laws based on human rights. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Gave President a "blank check" when sending troops to Vietnam, and didn't require him to consult with Congress beforehand. Many people felt this gave the President too much power.
