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1776 — Declaration of Independence; war with Britain until 1782
1777 — Articles of Confederation (first United States
Constitution) written by Continental Congress; ratified by
each state (the last one in 1781)
1778 — Wartime treaty of alliance with France
1783 — Formal peace treaty with Britain
1787 — New constitution written by convention in Philadelphia
1787-1788 — Constitution ratified, after debates in each state between proponents (Federalists) and opponents (Antifederalists). Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and
John Jay write The Federalist Papers as a contribution to
the campaign for ratification.
1788 — First congressional and presidential elections
1789 — First Congress and President George Washington's first administration begin, with Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury and Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State.
— Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10) adopted
— Congressman James Madison unsuccessfully proposes trade war with Britain.
1790 — Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton successfully proposes federal takeover ("assumption") of states' war debts.
1791 — Hamilton's proposal for National Bank approved
1792 — Republican party initiates first national partisan campaigns, in congressional elections.
1793 — News of execution of King of France reaches United States.
— War between France and Britain (which continues with
little pause until 1815)
1795 — Jay Treaty between United States and Britain
1796 — Washington's Farewell Address; Republican party now contests presidential as well as congressional elections.
1797 — President John Adams' administration begins.
1798-1800 — Naval "quasi-war" with France
1798 — Congress passes Alien and Sedition Acts; Thomas
Jefferson and James Madison secretly draft Kentucky and
Virginia Resolutions.
1800-1801 — Republicans win big majorities in House and Senate elections.
December 1800 — Republicans narrowly win presidential election, with electoral college tie between Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr.
February 1801 — After a week of balloting, House of
Representatives chooses Jefferson as President.
March 1801 — Peaceful transfer of power to Republicans; Jefferson's First Inaugural Address
