Second Presidential election Nov. 6, 1792 Feb. 8, 1793 March 2, 1793 SECOND ADMINISTRATION-FEDERAL. March 4, 1793, to March 3, 1797. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, Philadelphia, Pa. George Washington, Virginia, Presi dent. John Adams, Massachusetts, President. Vice "Citizen" Genet of France, as minister to the United States, arrives at Charleston, S. C.; warmly received nation, under penalty of forfeiture of the vessel and fine of $2,000..March 22, 1794 In retaliation against England, an embargo is laid on all shipping, continued for sixty days..........March 26, 1794 Senate ceases to sit with closed doors March 27, 1794 President nominates John Jay as envoy extraordinary to England.. April 16, 1794 Gouverneur Morris recalled as minister to France, and James Monroe appointed May 27, 1794 An act relating to neutrality passed June 5, 1794 Post-office Department permanently established 1794 Tariff act of 1792 further amended by increasing the ad valorem rates of duty June 7, 1794 First session adjourns..June 9, 1794 Whiskey insurrection in western PennApril 9, 1793 sylvania..... ..July-November, 1794 Eli Whitney invents the cotton - gin; Gen. Anthony Wayne defeats the Indmarked effect on slavery...........1793 ians near Maumee Rapids, in Ohio President issues his celebrated procla mation of neutrality (severely criticised by the opposition). ..... .. April 22, 1793 French government directs the seizure of vessels carrying supplies to an enemy's port..... ......May 9, 1793 Great Britain orders her ships-of-war to stop all vessels laden with French supplies and turn them into British ports June 8, 1793 Minister Genet's recall asked for by the government............ August, 1793 Corner-stone of the United States Capitol laid by Washington...Sept. 18, 1793 Followers of Jefferson begin to assume the name of Republicans, in opposition Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, to the Federalists, under leadership of resigns... ...January, 1795 Alexander Hamilton.... Third Congress adjourns.. March 3, 1795 President calls the Senate together to consider the Jay treaty with England 1793 Third Congress, first session, opens at Philadelphia, Pa.......................... .Dec. 2, 1793 Thomas Jefferson retires from State Department..... ...December, 1793 An amendment (the eleventh) to the Constitution approved by Congress, securing States against suits in the United States courts... .March 5, 1794 [Declared in force, Jan. 8, 1798.] Act authorizing the construction of six ships-of-war, the foundation of the United States navy.... ......March 11, 1794 An act is passed forbidding any American vessel to supply slaves to another Aug. 20, 1794 French minister Fanchet's despatch supposed to compromise Edmund Randolph, Secretary of State, intercepted by the British, and shown to the United States government; Randolph resigns.......1794 Second session opens at Philadelphia, Pa..... ......Nov. 3, 1794 Draft of treaty with England agreed to by John Jay, special envoy.. Nov. 19, 1794 Stringent naturalization law passed, requiring renunciation of titles of nobility Jan. 29, 1795 Act passed for gradual redemption of public debt..... .....1795 Fourth Congress, first session, opens at Philadelphia, Pa....... ...Dec. 7, 1795 Proclamation of the Jay treaty March 1, 1796 House demands the papers relating to the Jay treaty..........March 24, 1796 [President declined, the House being no part of the treaty-making power.] Jefferson writes the famous "Mazzei letter," about...... .April 21, 1796 [The publication of this letter, about a year later, severs all friendly relations between Washington and Jefferson.] consider the threatening relations with May 15, 1797 Speaker of the House, Jonathan Dayton, of New Jersey, Federalist. Congress subjects to a fine of $10,000 and ten years' imprisonment any citizen concerned in privateering against a friendly nation..... ....June 14, 1797 Congress authorizes the President to raise 80,000 militia for three months-the Fisher Ames's speech before the House quota from Tennessee, the smallest, 806, and Massachusetts, the largest, 11,836 on the Jay treaty with England April 28, 1796 House agrees to sustain Jay's treaty admitted April 30, 1796 Sept. 19, 1796 September, 1796 Feb. 8, 1797 [At this time was illustrated one of the great faults in the Constitution relative to the election of President and VicePresident prior to the Twelfth Amendment-Adams, a strong Federalist, President, and Jefferson, in direct opposition to that party, Vice-President.] Charles C. Pinckney, United States minister, not received by the French government, leaves France...... February, 1797 Fourth Congress adjourns March 3, 1797 THIRD ADMINISTRATION-FEDERAL. March 4, 1797, to March 3, 1801. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, Philadelphia, until 1800, then transferred to Washington. John Adams, Massachusetts, President. Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, Vice-Presi dent. Special session of Congress called to June 24, 1797 President empowered to employ the frigates Constitution, Constellation, and United States (see 1794)....July 1, 1797 Duties on stamped vellum parchment and paper, receipts, bonds, bills, insurance policies, certificates, etc., by act of July 6, 1797 A duty on salt levied......July 8, 1797 Senate expels William Blount, of Tennessee.... ....July 9, 1797 First session adjourns....July 10, 1797 President appoints John Marshall, of Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, with C. C. Pinckney, as commissioners to treat with France; they meet at Paris.... .Oct. 4, 1797 [Commissioners asked to bribe members of French Directory, but indignantly refuse. Talleyrand, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, implicated. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Pinckney ordered out of France. C. C. Pinckney declared that the United States had "millions for defence, but not one cent for tribute."] Second session assembles at Philadelphia, Pa..... .Nov. 13, 1797 First personal encounter in Congress between Matthew Lyon, of Vermont, and Roger Griswold, of Connecticut; House fails to censure or punish the Feb. 12-15, 1798 Mississippi Territory organized April 3, 1798 Congress makes provision for the gov ernment of the Territory of Mississippi April 7, 1798 Navy Department organized April 30, 1798 Secretary of the Navy appointed May 3, 1798 Harper's Ferry selected as site for a government armory and manufactory May 4, 1798 Congress authorizes a provisional army, and empowers the President, in case of an actual declaration of war or invasion, to enlist, for three years, 10,000 men May 28, 1798 Congress authorizes the President to instruct commanders of ships-of-war to seize French armed vessels attacking American merchantmen or hovering about the coast for that purpose. May 28, 1798 Song "Hail, Columbia!" first sung May, 1798 Imprisonment for debt abolished June 6, 1798 Commercial intercourse with France suspended.... ...June 12, 1798 Washington accepts appointment as commander-in-chief, with rank of lieutenant-general.... ..June 17, 1798 Uniform rule of naturalization adopted June 18, 1798 President announces the failure of the commission sent to France to make peace June 21, 1798 Alien act passed (alien and sedition laws).... .June 25, 1798 All French treaties declared void July 6, 1798 [The tenor of judicial opinion has been that France and the United States were not at war, although naval engagements took place.] Marine corps first organized by act of July 11, 1798 Sedition laws passed (alien and sedition laws).... ..........July 14, 1798 Second session adjourns..July 16, 1798 By treaty the Cherokees allow a free passage through their lands in Tennessee to all travellers on the road to Kentucky passing through Cumberland Gap Act to regulate the collection of duties and tonnage, and to establish ports of entry.... .March 2, 1799 Estimates for the year amount to over $13,000,000 ....1799 Fifth Congress adjourns..March 3, 1799 Upon assurance from France that a representative from the United States will be received with the "respect due a powerful nation," President nominates William Van Murray as minister to France, and associates with him Chief-Justice Ellsworth, of Connecticut, and Governor Davie, of North Carolina; all are received by Napoleon, first consul..March 30, 1799 Sixth Congress, first session, assembles at Philadelphia, Pa..........Dec. 2, 1799 Speaker of the House, Theodore Sedgwick, Massachusetts. George Washington dies..Dec. 14, 1799 Eulogy before Congress by Henry Lee, of Virginia, calling him "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen". ..Dec. 26, 1799 United States frigate Constellation, Com. Thomas Truxtun, defeats the French frigate La Vengeance... Feb. 1, 1800 General bankruptcy act.... April 4, 1800 Territory of Indiana organized May 7, 1800 Stricter law against the slave-trade May 10, 1800 Congress establishes four land offices for the sale of public lands in the Northwest Territory (Ohio)...... May 10, 1800 Connecticut resigns jurisdiction over the Western Reserve...... .May 13, 1800 First session (last meeting in Phila delphia) adjourns........ ....May 14, 1800 President Adams removes Timothy Pickering, Secretary of State, and James McHenry, Secretary of War....May, 1800 United States government removes from Philadelphia to the new capital, Washington..... .July, 1800 Frigate George Washington, Capt. William Bainbridge, carries to Algiers the Dey's tribute-money, and is required to carry the Dey's ambassador to Constantinople..... .September, 1800 Envoys to France negotiate a convention for eight years, preventing open war Oct. 2, 1798 Trial of Matthew Lyon, of Vermont, before Judge Patterson, under the sedition law.. ...Oct. 7, 1798 Third session assembles at Philadelphia, Pa...... .Dec. 3, 1798 United States frigate Constellation, Com. Thomas Truxtun, captures the French ship-of-war L'Insurgente off the island of St. Kitts..... . Feb. 9, 1799 [Ratified by France, July 31, 1801, and General Post-office established by act of by the United States, Dec. 19, 1801. UnMarch 2, 1799 der this treaty the claims for indemnity, Sept. 30, 1800 known as the "French Spoliation Claims," establishment of 1796-one regiment of artillery and two of infantry—and organizes a military academy at West Point March 16, 1802 have been the subject of frequent reports and discussions in Congress, with no result until referred to the court of claims by the act of Jan. 20, 1885.] Spanish government cedes Louisiana to France by the secret treaty of St. Ildefonso.. .Oct. 1, 1800 Nov. 11, 1800 Second session (first meeting in Washington, D. C.)....................... .Nov. 17, 1800 Capitol building burned at Washington Jan. 19, 1801 John Marshall appointed chief-justice Jan. 20, 1801 Electoral votes counted.... Feb. 11, 1801 Congress assumes jurisdiction over the District of Columbia........ Feb. 27, 1801 Navy reduced to thirteen vessels; the rest to be disarmed and sold Fourth Presidential election Ohio adopts a State constitution Nov. 29, 1802 Second session convenes....Dec. 6, 1802 Ohio admitted as a State (the seventeenth)... . Feb. 19, 1803 Seventh Congress adjourns March 3, 1803 Treaty with France: the United States March 3, 1801 [Among those reserved were the frigates United States, Constitution, President, purchases Louisiana for $15,000,000 Chesapeake, Philadelphia, Constellation, Congress.] Sixth Congress adjourns.. March 3, 1801 FOURTH ADMINISTRATION-DEMOCRATICREPUBLICAN, March 4, 1801, to March 3, 1805. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, at Washington. Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, President. Aaron Burr, New York, Vice-President. Three frigates and one sloop-of-war sent to the Barbary coast to protect our commerce, commanded by Com. Richard Dale May 20, 1801 Tripoli declares war against the United States... ....June 10, 1801 Seventh Congress, first session, con....Dec. 7, 1801 Speaker of the House, Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina. venes. [President Jefferson sends a written message to Congress and announces that no answer is expected. No President has since addressed Congress orally.] Congress appoints John Beckley, of Virginia, librarian, with a room of the Capitol for the library.. ...Jan. 26, 1802 Congress recognizes the war with Tripoli Feb. 6, 1802 Repeal of the new circuit act March 8, 1802 Congress reduces the army to the peace April 30, 1803 Eighth Congress, first session, convenes... .Oct. 17, 1803 Speaker of the House, Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina. Senate ratifies the treaty with France by vote of 24 to 7..........Oct. 20, 1803 President authorized by Congress to take possession of Louisiana..Oct 30, 1803 Frigate Philadelphia, forty-four guns, Captain Bainbridge, pursuing Tripolitan ship-of-war, strikes a rock in the harbor of Tripoli and is captured....Oct. 31, 1803 Independence of Haiti proclaimed Nov. 29, 1803 Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution, relative to electing the President and Vice-President, passed by the Senate, 22 to 10..... .Dec. 2, 1803 Same passed by the House-83 to 42 Dec. 12, 1803 New Orleans delivered to the United .Dec. 20, 1803 States.... Lieut. Stephen Decatur, with the ketch Intrepid, destroys the Philadelphia in the harbor of Tripoli under the guns of the castle, without losing a man, night of Feb. 16, 1804 Impeachment of Samuel Chase, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; trial begun...... February, 1804 [Acquitted March, 1805.] Louisiana Purchase divided into the off Sandy Hook, and territory of New Orleans and the District man... of Louisiana...... .March 26, 1804 Great Britain issues First session adjourns..March 27, 1804 Capt. Meriwether Lewis, of the 1st Infantry, and Lieut. William Clark, appointed to explore the Missouri River and seek water communication with the Pacific coast, enter the Missouri River kills the helms..April 25, 1806 an "Order in Council" declaring the whole coast of Napoleon issues the Berlin Decree minates .1806 Burr arrested by Lieutenant Gaines, May 14, 1804 Burr, Vice-President, mortally wounds Alexander Hamilton in a duel at Weehawken, N. J., Hamilton having fired in the air... ....July 11, 1804 Twelfth Amendment being accepted by two-thirds of the States-Massachusetts, near Fort Stoddart, Ala.. Feb. 19, 1807 Connecticut, and Delaware only dissenting is declared ratified....Sept. 25, 1804 Second session convenes.... Nov. 4, 1804 Fifth Presidential election Nov. 13, 1804 March 2, 1805 [This measure was urged by President Jefferson, but proved to be useless.] Genesee and Buffalo Creek, N. Y., made ports of entry...... March 3, 1805 Eighth Congress adjourns. March 3, 1805 [With this Congress closes the political life of Aaron Burr.] FIFTH ADMINISTRATION - DEMOCRATICREPUBLICAN, March 4, 1805, to March 3, 1809. Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, President. George Clinton, New York, Vice-President. Treaty of peace with Tripoli June 3, 1805 Abiel Holmes's American Annals first published .1805 Ninth Congress, first session, convenes Dec. 2, 1805 Speaker of the House, Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina. Commission authorized to lay out a national road from Cumberland, Md., to the Ohio River..... ...March 29, 1806 First session adjourns.. April 21, 1806 Leander, a British naval vessel, fires into an American coaster, the Richard, Act to prohibit import of slaves from Jan. 1, 1808, passes the House, Feb. 7, 1807, by 113 to 5; approved March 2, 1807 Duty on salt repealed.. March 3, 1807 Ninth Congress adjourns..March 3, 1807 Burr brought to Richmond, Va., early in March, 1807 His trial for treason begins there May 22, 1807 British frigate Leopard, fifty guns, Captain Humphreys, fires into the United States frigate Chesapeake, Commodore Barron, off Chesapeake Bay, killing three and wounding eight, and takes four seamen, claiming them as British subjects June 22, 1807 [Barron was suspended by a courtmartial for five years without pay and emoluments, for making no resistance and surrendering his ship.] American ports closed to the British, and British ships ordered from American waters..... .....July, 1807 First steamboat, the Clermont (Fulton's), starts from New York for Albany Sept. 14, 1807 Aaron Burr acquitted.. Sept. 15, 1807 Tenth Congress, first session, convenes Oct. 26, 1807 Speaker of the House, Joseph B. Varnum, Massachusetts. A British "Order in Council" forbids neutral nations to trade with France or her allies except under tribute to Great Britain.... .Nov. 11, 1807 Napoleon's Milan decree forbids trade with England or her colonies, and con fiscates any vessel paying tribute or submitting to English search....Dec. 17, 1807 |