In 1798 President John Adams passed one of the most controversial sets of laws in US history. Known as the Alien and Sedition Acts, they hold great historical significance, particularly for the popular backlash that resulted. The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of four laws that were designed to aid and protect the …
In the waning days of his presidency John Adams signed into law a highly controversial bill. The Judiciary Act of 1801 would go on to have great significance in the following years, helping to change the federal government as we know it. Also known as the “Midnight Judges” Act, historians often portray the Judiciary Act …
One of the most important Supreme Court cases in the history of the United States was Marbury v. Madison. In 1803 the federal judiciary held little authority and its powers were loosely defined by the Constitution. The result was a weak Supreme Court that impacted little in the early days of the nation. Chief Justice …
Why Was Marbury v. Madison Important? (+ Background) Read More »
The Louisiana Purchase was a significant event of monumental proportions in the history of the United States. From the French perspective, just why did Napoleon sell the Louisiana territory to the Americans? It cannot be understated just how important the Louisiana Purchase was to the United States. The territory utterly transformed the nation over the …
At the turn of the 19th century the United States signed a treaty with massive ramifications. Just why was the Louisiana Purchase important and what impact did it have on the United States? The Louisiana Purchase was a significant treaty in 1803 where the United States purchased the entire Louisiana territory from France for $15 …
Chief Justice John Marshall issued several of the most important Supreme Court decisions during his tenure from 1801-1835. His 1810 decision in the Fletcher v. Peck case is among those with the greatest historical significance. Fletcher v. Peck centered around the Contract Clause of the Constitution (Article I Section 10 Clause I). In his decision …
A question that academics and scholars often ask is: just how did Andrew Jackson win the election of 1828? Andrew Jackson was anything but your ordinary politician. Raised on the western frontier and military hero of the important 1815 Battle of New Orleans, Jackson was quick-tempered, unyielding, and physically imposing. Jackson’s ultimate victory over John …
How Did Andrew Jackson Win the Election of 1828? Read More »
One of the most important events in the history of the United States was the rise of Andrew Jackson to the presidency. Jackson’s victory and its enormous effects on American society was ultimately the true significance of the election of 1828. The 1828 election is considered one of the dirtiest in US history, similar to …
A New Era: The Significance of the Election of 1828 Read More »
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was a monumental piece of legislation in United States history that had numerous causes. The act itself gave President Andrew Jackson the authority to negotiate the removal of all Native American Nations to the west of the Mississippi River. Eventually this policy led to the dreadful forced removal of …
In 1830 Congress passed one of the most significant laws regarding Native Americans in United States history. The effects of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 would prove devastating for the indigenous population and their way of life. In the election of 1828 Andrew Jackson won on a promise to solve the “Indian problem.” One …
In the early 1830s the Supreme Court decided two monumental cases involving the Cherokee Nation. The true significance of the second case, Worcester v. Georgia, lies in the aftermath of the Court’s ruling and what it led to for the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation was included among the so-called “Five Civilized Tribes” located east …
Several early Supreme Court cases helped to define federalism in the early years of the United States. One of the most influential cases was Gibbons v. Ogden, the impact of which can still be felt in the present day. When John Marshall became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1801, little did the nation …
