Timeline of United States history (1790–1819) facts for kids

The United States in 1790.

This article explores important events in the history of the United States from 1790 to 1819. During these years, the young nation grew, faced challenges, and elected new leaders. You'll learn about new states joining the country, big decisions made by the government, and even a war!

The 1790s: A New Nation Grows

George Washington's Time as President

• 1790 – Rhode Island joined the United States. It was the 13th state to agree to the Constitution.
• 1791 – The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. These are the first ten changes, or amendments, that protect people's rights.
• 1791 – The First Bank of the United States was created. This was a central bank for the country.
• 1791 – Vermont became the 14th state. It used to be its own independent republic.
• 1792 – Kentucky became the 15th state. It was once part of Virginia.
• 1792 – George Washington was reelected as president. John Adams was reelected as vice president.
• 1793 – Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. This machine made it much faster to separate cotton fibers from seeds.
• March 4, 1793 – President Washington and Vice President Adams started their second terms.
• 1793 – A serious yellow fever outbreak happened in Philadelphia. Many people got sick.
• 1793 – The Fugitive Slave Act was passed. This law made it easier for slave owners to reclaim enslaved people who had escaped.
• 1794 – The Whiskey Rebellion took place. Farmers in Pennsylvania protested a tax on whiskey. President Washington sent troops to stop the rebellion.
• 1794 – The Battle of Fallen Timbers was fought. U.S. forces defeated Native American tribes in Ohio.
• 1795 – The Treaty of Greenville was signed. This agreement gave a large area of land in Ohio to the United States.
• 1795 – Jay's Treaty was signed with Great Britain. It helped avoid another war between the two countries.
• 1795 – The 11th Amendment was approved. It limited the ability to sue states in federal court.
• 1795 – Pinckney's Treaty was signed with Spain. This treaty set the border between the U.S. and Spanish Florida. It also gave the U.S. rights to use the Mississippi River.
• 1796 – Tennessee became the 16th state. It was formerly part of North Carolina.
• 1796 – The Treaty of Tripoli was signed. This agreement was with the North African state of Tripoli.
• 1796 – John Adams was elected president. Thomas Jefferson became vice president.

John Adams's Time as President

• 1797 – John Adams became the second President. He served until 1801. Thomas Jefferson became Vice President.
• 1798 – The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed. These laws made it harder for immigrants to become citizens. They also limited what people could say or write about the government.
• 1798 – The Quasi-War began. This was an undeclared naval war between the U.S. and France.
• 1798 and 1799 – The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were written. These state resolutions argued against the Alien and Sedition Acts.
• 1799 – Fries's Rebellion occurred. Farmers in Pennsylvania protested new taxes.
• 1799 – The Logan Act was passed. This law prevents private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments.
• 1799 – George Washington passed away.

The 1800s: Expansion and New Challenges

The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 greatly expanded the United States.

• 1800 – The Library of Congress was founded. This is the national library of the United States.
• 1800 – The Convention of 1800 ended the Quasi-War with France.
• 1800 – The presidential election between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr ended in a tie.
• 1801 – Thomas Jefferson was elected president by the House of Representatives. Aaron Burr became vice president.
• 1801 – President Adams appointed John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Thomas Jefferson's Time as President

• 1801 – Thomas Jefferson became the third President. Aaron Burr became Vice President.
• 1803 – The Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison happened. For the first time, the Supreme Court said a law passed by Congress was unconstitutional.
• 1803 – The Louisiana Purchase took place. The U.S. bought a huge amount of land from France. This doubled the size of the country.
• 1803 – Ohio became the 17th state.
• 1804 – The 12th Amendment was approved. It changed how the president and vice president are elected.
• 1804 – New Jersey ended slavery.
• 1804 – The Burr–Hamilton duel occurred. Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr.
• 1804 – The Lewis and Clark began their journey. They explored the new lands of the Louisiana Purchase.
• 1804 – Thomas Jefferson was reelected president. George Clinton was elected vice president.
• 1805 – President Jefferson started his second term. George Clinton became Vice President.
• 1807 – The Embargo Act of 1807 was passed. This law stopped American ships from trading with other countries. It was meant to avoid war with Britain and France.
• 1807 – Robert Fulton invented the successful steamboat.
• 1807 – The U.S. ended the importation of enslaved people from Africa.
• 1808 – James Madison was elected president. George Clinton was reelected vice president.

James Madison's Time as President

• 1809 – James Madison became the fourth President. Vice President Clinton started his second term.
• 1809 – The Non-Intercourse Act was passed. It replaced the Embargo Act and allowed trade with all countries except Britain and France.

The 1810s: War and More Growth

During the War of 1812, British troops burned Washington, D.C.

• 1810 – The Supreme Court case Fletcher v. Peck happened. It was the first time the Supreme Court said a state law was unconstitutional.
• 1811 – The charter for the First Bank of the United States ended.
• 1812 – Vice President Clinton passed away.
• 1812 – The War of 1812 began. This war was fought between the United States and Great Britain.
• 1812 – Daniel Webster was elected to Congress.
• 1812 – Louisiana became the 18th state.
• 1812 – James Madison was reelected president. Elbridge Gerry was elected vice president.
• 1813 – President Madison started his second term. Elbridge Gerry became Vice President.
• 1813-1814 – The Creek War took place. This was a conflict with Native American tribes in the Southeast.
• 1814 – British troops burned Washington, D.C., including the White House. However, they were stopped at Baltimore.
• 1814 – Vice President Gerry passed away.
• 1814 – The Treaty of Ghent was signed. This agreement officially ended the War of 1812.
• 1815 – The Battle of New Orleans was fought. This major battle happened after the peace treaty was signed, but before news reached the U.S.
• 1816 – Indiana became the 19th state.
• 1816 – The Second Bank of the United States was created.
• 1816 – James Monroe was elected president. Daniel D. Tompkins was elected vice president.

James Monroe's Time as President

• 1817 – James Monroe became the fifth President. Daniel D. Tompkins became Vice President.
• 1817 – The Rush-Bagot Treaty was signed with Great Britain. It limited naval forces on the Great Lakes.
• 1817 – Harvard Law School was founded.
• 1817 – Mississippi became the 20th state.
• 1818 – The Cumberland Road was opened. This was an important early highway.
• 1818 – Illinois became the 21st state.
• 1818 – The Jackson Purchase happened in Kentucky. This was a land deal with Native American tribes.
• 1819 – The Panic of 1819 occurred. This was the first major financial crisis in the United States.
• 1819 – The Adams-Onís Treaty was signed with Spain. This agreement led to the U.S. gaining Florida.
• 1819 – The Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland happened. It said that states could not make laws that went against federal laws or the Constitution.
• 1819 – The Supreme Court case Dartmouth College v. Woodward happened. This case protected the idea that contracts and agreements should be honored.
• 1819 – Alabama became the 22nd state in the U.S.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Cronología de la historia de los Estados Unidos (1790-1819) para niños