Political Sermons of the American Founding Era: 1730–1805: In Two Volumes

Chronology, 1789-1794

Chronology I789 The first Congress under the new Constitution meets at Federal Hall in New York (Mar. 4). George Washington is inaugurated as President (Apr. 30). The Judiciary Act creates the federal court system, and the departments of state, war, and treasury are created to compose the executive branch. The Society of St. Tammany is organized in New York City by William Mooney as an Antifederalist political fraternity (May I2). The French Revolution begins with the fall of the Bastille Ouly I4), an event witnessed by Thomas Jefferson, then minister to France. President Washington transmits to the states the proposed amendments to the Constitution (Oct. 2). The states ratify ten of them as a Bill of Rights and reject two. John Carroll, ordained the first Catholic bishop in America, founds Georgetown, the first Catholic university in America. The University of North Carolina is founded. William Hill Brown publishes the first American novel, The Power of Sympathy. David Ramsay's The History of the American Revolution, the first national history, is published. The first national Thanksgiving Day is established, by Congress's resolution and Washington's proclamation, to give thanks for the Constitution; the Antifederalists object, claiming that this violates states' rights (Nov. 26). I790 A DISCOURSE ON THE LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY, Richard Price A Quaker delegation petitions Congress to abolish slavery (Feb. II). The first census is completed (Mar. I), showing a total U.S. population of 3,929,625, including 59,557 free blacks and 697,624 enslaved blacks. The largest cities are Philadelphia (42,ooo), New York (33,ooo), Boston (I8,ooo), Charleston (I6,ooo), and Baltimore IOOI I002 CHRONOLOGY (I 3,ooo). The most populous state is Virginia (82o,ooo). Only Massachusetts reports no slaves. Jefferson returns from France to become Secretary of State (Mar. 22). Universalists convene in Philadelphia, led by Dr. Benjamin Rush and Reverend Elhanan Winchester, and assert an anti-Trinitarian doctrine denying the divinity of Jesus (May 25). Rhode Island finally ratifies the Constitution, the thirteenth state to do so (May 29). At the urging of Noah Webster, the first Copyright Act is passed and signed into law by President Washington (May 3I). A ten-square-mile Potomac River site is authorized Quly Io) for a new national capital (Washington is to select the precise tract), with Philadelphia to serve in the interim (the government moves there in Dec.). Samuel Slater builds a spinning mill for the Quaker merchant Moses Brown at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, beginning factory production in America (Dec. 2I). I79I THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, James Dana A SERMON DELIVERED AT THE ANNUAL ELECTION, Israel Evans THE RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE INALIENABLE, John Leland The Whiskey Act places an excise tax on distilled liquors and stills, despite the opposition of farmers who dispose of surplus grain by distilling it (Mar. 3). Vermont becomes the fourteenth state (Mar. 4). Jefferson and Madison organize Antifederalist factions in Middle Atlantic and New England states during a "botanizing excursion"; they oppose Washington's and Hamilton's Federalist policies, giving birth to the Democratic-Republican Party (May-June). Benjamin Banneker, a black mathematician, scientist, and clockmaker, is appointed one of three commissioners to survey the site for the new federal capital on the Potomac River Quly I6). Partisan newspapers fuel the conflict between Hamilton and Jefferson; Philip Freneau's National Gazette of Philadelphia is a major voice for Jeffersonian views. Hamilton presents to Congress a report of manufacturers that aims at developing American industry and agriculture (Dec. 5). The main office of the Bank of the United States opens in Philadelphia (Dec. I2). Thomas Paine publishes the first part of Rights of Man; from 1789-1794 !003 opposing viewpoints, Vice President John Adams publishes Discourses of Davila and his son John Quincy Adams publishes the Publicola papers. The University of Vermont is founded. 1792 A SERMON FOR THE DAY OF GENERAL ELECTION, David Tappan The second part of Paine's Rights of Man appears (Jan.). Congress enacts the Militia Act in the face of growing Indian hostilities in the Northwest Territory; Gen. St. Clair, defeated by the Ohio Indians, is replaced as governor by Gen. Anthony Wayne. Kentucky is admitted as the fifteenth state. In a national election (Nov. r), President George Washington and Vice President John Adams are re-elected by r32 and 77 electoral votes, respectively (results promulgated Dec. s); the Antifederalist George Clinton, Governor of New York, receives so electoral votes...