Contents:

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

James Madison

Andrew Jackson

John Marshall

The Thirteen Colonies

The American Revolution Timeline

John Adams

John Adams is known for his many contributions to the United States from becoming the first vice president to helping end the Revolutionary War.

Making Sure the British Soldiers Receive a Fair Trial

Some British soldiers were accused of killing five people in the Boston Massacre of March 1770. John Adams wanted to make sure they received a fair trial and therefore represented them in court.

Challenging Great Britain's Authority

Adams felt that the British were imposing high taxes and tariffs as a tool of oppression. He therefore challenged Great Britain's authority in colonial America.

Becoming President

After George Washington retired, John Adams ran for presidency. He defeated runner up Thomas Jefferson by 3 votes, becoming the second president.

Nominating George Washington

John Adams was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress and a participant in the Constitutional Convention. Being in that position, he nominated George Washington to serve as commander of the colonial forces in the American Revolutionary War.

France was seizing American ships. To handle the matter, Adams sent a three man team to Paris in hopes of negotiating a solution.

Trying to Avoid War With France/ XYZ Affair

Alien and Sedition Acts:

John Adams signed the Alien and Sedition Acts which was a controversial law. However, he did not promote any of the acts here.

Additional Facts

-John Adams graduated from Harvard University, getting a degree in law.

-Adams lost a lot of his popularity after signing the "Alien and Sedition Acts."

-He nominated Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson

From drafting the Declaration of Independence to forming the Democratic Republican Party and becoming president, Thomas Jefferson has played a huge role in the US history.

The Louisiana Purchase:

Napolean Bonaparte of France had offered to sell the Louisiana territory to the United States. Not sure of whether it was against the law to make such a purchase, Jefferson as President bought the land for $15 million thus doubling the US territory.

Forming the Two Party System:

As secretary of State appointed by George Washington he had conflicting views with Alexander Hamilton who was secretary of treasury.

His belief in strong state governments and Hamilton's belief in a strong central government had created the two party system: Democratic Republicans and Federalists.

A Summary View of the Rights of America

Jefferson wrote the pamphlet , "A Summary View of the Rights of British America." Here he declared that the British Parliament had no right to exercise authority over the American colony.

Embargo of 1807

France and Great Britain were harassing American merchant ships and so Jefferson implemented the Embargo of 1807. This act prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports.

Additional Facts:

Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.

Along with James Madison he founded the Democratic Republican Party.

Became the new nation's secretary of state by George Washington.

James Madison

The Virginia Plan

The delegates faced an issue of giving fair representation to both small and large states. John Madison tried to help by proposing the Virginia plan, which called for a bicameral, two-house, legislature, with membership based on each state's population.

Ratification

The new government could only be approved if at least nine states ratified and so the battle of ratification began. James Madison was one of the influential supporters of ratification and took part in writing "The Federalist", which was a series of 85 essays defending the Constitution.

War of 1812

The British had been seizing Americans at sea and drafting them into the British Navy. Officials in British Canada were supplying arms to Native Americans to attack American settlers. This made the nation angry and Madison decided to begin a war against Britain in 1812.

Additional Facts

James Madison was the fourth president.

Madison favoured a strict interpretation of the Constitution unlike Hamilton.

During his presidency, he placed Wilkinson in charge of Terre aux Boeufs on the Louisiana coast to protect the U.S. from invasion.