Chronology 1800-1845

 1800 - Thomas Jefferson wins a most-disputed election (both over John Adams, and over Aaron Bur, who becomes vice-president). His mandate was known as one of "simplicity"

May 1803 to Oct. 1803: Jefferson "bends" the Constitution to buy Louisiana for 15000 dollars from Napoleon

Feb. 1804: Marbury vs. Madison reinforces the power of the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of the law (Chief Justice John Marshall)

1804-1806: Lewis and Clark expedition of Louisiana

June 1807 - Chesapeake-Leopard Affair

December 1807 - The Embargo Act (repealed March 1809)

1809 - James Madison President

18 June 1812 - US declares war on Britain. Also called in derogative terms by the Federalists "Mr. Madison's War", this is one of the historical conflicts over which there are several polemical and conflictual views.

24 December 1814: Treaty of Ghent

Dec 15 - Jan. 15 1815 - Hartford Convention (Federalist attempt to introduce amends to the Constitution and to impeach Parliament)

Jan. 8, 1815 - Battle of New Orleans and rise of nationalist feeling, "the era of good feelings"

1817 - James Monroe, a mentoree of Thomas Jefferson, and the last of the "founding fathers" becomes President of the US. He will retain the post until 1825, and his presidency, placating party dissidence, is known as The Era of Good Feelings. He is associated also with the policy of, "go-it-alone", closing the European "colonizing season" in America.

1819  - Spain cedes Florida to the US.

1820 - The Missouri Compromise (Maine, also admitted to the Union, remains a slaveless state, while Missouri retains slaves)

1823 - The Monroe Doctrine (outruled Euroepean interference henceforth in the American continent)

Expansion of the Western Frontier(s) - starting back in the beginning of the century with the Lewis-Clark Expedition, through the Missouri River towards the Pacific Coast.

1825-1829 - Presidency of John Quincy Adams (son of John Adams and former Secretary of State under James Monroe). The 1824 elections were contested, but Quincy Adams retained power. This leads also to a division among the Democratic Republicans between National Republicans, later Wigs (Quincy's supporters) and Democrats, whence Andrew Jackson will ascend. The new division will also give rise to the emergence of small parties (Anti-Masonic, Abolitionist, Free Soil), starting, from 1828, the two party system.

1829-1837 - Presidency of Andrew Jackson: the rise of Mass Democracy (anthology, p. 155). "Tariff of Abominations" to protect Northern industry incenses the South.

1829 - Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears

1830 - Foundation of the Mormon Church by Joseph Smith in New York (cf. anthology p. 171) - the Mormons, or Latter Day Saints Church then move to Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, Arizona and Utah.

1837: Panic of 1837 (financial crisis)

1837-1841: Presidency of Martin Van Buren

1841: William Henry Harrison becomes President and dies (Whig). John Tyler succeeds him.

1845: James Knox Polk (Democrat), the process of Texas annexation starts