Thousands of farmers were in debt from consequences of the Articles of Confederation. They wanted the Massachusetts government to protect them from the loss of their farmland. When the Massachusetts government refused, the farmers rebelled.

A whiskey tax imposed by Hamilton made grain, a valuable cash crop, worth less for the western American farmers that grew it. From 1791-1794, some American farmers assaulted tax collectors.

In 1789, the Americans received news that the French people had revolted against their king. This made some Americans believe that freedom was spreading to Europe. Throughout the next few years, violence spiraled in France, with the only hope coming from a peaceful election of a President in America.

During the French Revolution, John Adams sent three officials (codenamed X, Y, and Z) to negotiate over French attacks to American shipping. This angered Americans who did not want to support France.

The Great Compromise was a merging of two other plans: the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. It divided Congress into two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In 1787, representatives from 12 states came to Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. They revisited each branch and ensured each one was balanced around each other.

At the Constitutional Convention, it was agreed that the foreign slave trade would be protected for 20 years, but in exchange South Carolina and Georgia supported a clause that made it easier for Congress to pass commercial legislation.

While not an act or law, our country's first bank was approved by Congress in 1791, similarly to how laws are passed. The Bank introduced millions of dollars in new financial tools for the United States.

In 1787, when the Constitution was passed, its first ten amendments were called the Bill of Rights. They were created as a compromise between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

The Alien Act allowed the government to deport French citizens, "aliens", out of the country. The Sedition Act allowed anyone speaking or writing falsely about the government to be prosecuted. These two laws caused a great backlash from Americans.

These resolutions argued that the US government was limited to the powers granted by the Constitution. In addition, they claimed that states could declare federal laws unconstitutional. They would have an important effect over the next few decades.

In late 1794, John Jay signed a treaty with Britain to resolve post-war conflicts with the country by requiring Britain to abandon military positions in Northwest territories. This also saw Britain and America become trade partners.

Before the Constitution was ratified, Federalists and Anti-Federalists debated on whether or not the constitution should be ratified. Federalists supported it, but Anti-Federalists did not.

Before 1790, all thirteen colonies had state-supported churches. The colonies slowly phased it out, with none of them funding churches by 1833, after Massachusetts stopped its support.

Adams had lost the support of the general public by 1800, so he was not elected to a second term. During the election, the Democrats and Republicans claims that if the other side won, war would break it. The main competitors ended up being Republicans Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.