Recent Event Highlights: Civil War Era, Pre-Civil War, and 12 more...
Created by tglover on Aug 23, 2010
Last updated: 09/30/10 at 06:17 AM
Democracy & Republicanism has no followers yet. Be the first one to follow.
The presidents during this time period would be Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Regan, and George Bush. Major and Significant domestic events: 1970: Kent State 1971: Pentagon Paper 1971: 26th Amendment 1973: Us ends direct intervention in Vietnam war 1972- 1974: Watergate Scandal 1974: Richard Nixon becomes the first president to resign his office 1974: Gerald Ford becomes president 1977: Jimmy carter becomes president 1979: 3 mile island nuclear accident 1979-1981: Iranian Hostage Crisis 1980: Ronald Regan is elected president 1980: IMB releases first computer 1980: President Regan is shot 1980: Doctors diagnose first case of AIDS 1983: “Star War” missile defense system 1984: Regan is reelected 1985: Iran-Contra Affair 1985: US begins secret arms-for-hostage negotiations 1988: George Bush is elected president 1989: Exxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons of oil Major and Significant foreign events: 1977: Spain holds its first free elections since the Spanish Civil War 1982: Falklands War 1982: Soviet Union invades Afghanistan; Equal Rights Movement fails 1989: Berlins tear down Berlin Wall 1989: US invades Panama The lack of unity during the end of the 20th century created many problems for the United States. The main indication of Republicanism and Democracy would come with the 26th amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. This showed republicanism because the government had the final say over the law, but it also showed democracy because the government listened to what the people wanted. This was one of the few instances where both government and state worked together toward a coming goal. Most of the people during this time period were confused over the Watergate scandal because they did not know the extent of the Vietnam War, until the Pentagon Papers were published in the New York Times. This not only confused American citizens but shocked them as well. __ "Richard M. Nixon." Civil Rights in America. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 2010. American Journey. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. Timeline events From: Mintz, S. (2007). Digital History. Retrieved September 18 2019 from http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu
1960: First ‘sit in’ movement 1960: Nixon and Kennedy face off in four televised debates 1961: US launches its first astronaut 1961: John F. Kennedy becomes president 1961: The Cuban Missile Crisis 1963: Martian Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech 1963: John Kennedy is assassinated 1963: Lyndon B Johnson is president 1964: 24th Amendment 1964: President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 1964: Golf of Tonkin Resolution 1965: US bombs South Vietnam 1967: Kenner Commission 1968: President Johnsons announces he will not run for reelection and puts a halt to US bombing of North Vietnam 1968: Martian Luther King is assassinate 1968: Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated 1969: Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to walk on the moon Major and Significant foreign events: 1961: Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to orbit the earth 1961: Berlin Wall begins to be built 1963: US and USSR sign the Nuclear test Ban Treaty 1963: US, Soviet Union and Britain sign a treaty banning nuclear tests The struggle for democracy during the 1960’s was evident through the many protests. One of the main protests would be the Vietnam War. During this time, the voting age was twenty-one while the drafting age was eighteen. This meant one could be drafted into a war without even being able to have a say about it, causing much anger amongst the youth of America. In addition African Americans, Women, and Mexican minorities wanted equal rights in the working force as well as equal job opportunities. Also groups such as the Students for a democratic Democracy and the Young Americans for freedom were emerging and protesting the Vietnam War and Anti-Communism. Many argue that the Vietnam War created all this rebellion and protesting for rights among Americans, showing great democracy. Contrary to all this democracy the government started gaining more power by making reforms such as the New Frontier or the Great Society. These reforms targeted education, medical, the elderly, the poor and space exploration which directly helped the United States push ahead from an economic standpoint. --- "Armstrong, Neil." U*X*L Biographies. Detroit: U*X*L, 2010. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 19 Sept. 2010.
Major and Significant domestic affairs: The presidents during this time period would Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. 1945: A-Bomb 1946: Iron Curtain Speech 1947: Truman Doctrine 1948: Marshall Plan 1948: Congress authorizes the Marshall Plan 1949: US joins NATO 1949: Soviet Union, A Bomb 1950: McCarran Internal Security Act 1950: Korean War begins 1950: McArthur hearings 1950: US forces cross 38th parallel into North Korea 1951: 22nd amendment 1952: Checkers Speech 1953: Korean War ends 1954: Brown v Board of Education 1954: Army- McCarthy Hearings 1955: AFL & CLO merge 1956: Interstate highway system 1957: Little Rock desegregation crisis, Sputnik 1958: National Deference education Act 1959: Alaska and Hawaii Major and Significant foreign affairs: 1948: Berlin Blockade During the beginning of this era there was more corruption than democracy. One major example of this can be linked back to Nixon’s “Checkers Speech”. This was when Nixon took some of the government’s money for his own personal use. He blamed this withdrawal somewhat on his dog, Checkers. This event showed that the government was corrupt mostly because of the leaders who were serving at the time. In addition to the government being corrupt, the American population at this did not support the government either. This is evident through the Korean War, as many citizens did not favor this war. In addition to protesting war, many Americans (predominately white) also were against the segregation of schools such as Little Rock High School, in Arkansas. This showed that even though African Americans and other minority groups gained major rights over the past few decades, segregation was still predominate in American society. The government failed to support all people under a democratic society as they did little to make progress in eliminating segregation. ---- "Four U.S. soldiers in combat during the Korean War." UXL American Decades. Ed. Julie L. Carnagie, et al. Vol. 6: 1950-1959. Detroit: UXL, 2003. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 19 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during this time period would be Warren G Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry s Truman. Major and Significant domestic affairs: 1923: Calvin Coolidge is elected president 1924: Two States (Wyoming and Texas) elect women governors 1928: Fifteen nation sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact 1929: Herbert Hoover is elected president 1929: Black Tuesday 1931: President Hoover signs an Act saying the “star spangled banner” is the US national anthem 1932: Reconstruction Finance Corporation is established 1932: Franklin Roosevelt promises a “New Deal” 1933: Franklin Roosevelt becomes president and launches the New deal 1933: Prohibition is repealed 1935: President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act 1937: Supreme Court upholds a minim wage law for women and upholds the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. 1937: Neutrality Act 1939: WW11 begins 1941: Japanese planes attack American fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor 11942: Battle of Midway 1944: D-Day 1944: President Roosevelt signs GI Bill of Rights 1944: Battle of Leyte Gulf 1945: Harry S. Truman is elected president Major and Significant foreign affairs: 1933: Adolf Hitler is appointed Chancellor 1936: Violation of Treaty of Versailles; 4,000 German troops occupy the Rhineland’s 1936: Civil war erupts in Spain 1938: Munich Pact 1939: Germany and Soviet Union sign a non-aggression pact 1939: WW11 begins 1940: Norway and Denmark fall to Nazis 1940: Germany captures Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg 1940: Battle of Britain 1941: Germany invades Russia, breaking pact 1944: Battle of Bulge 1945: V-E Day 1945: Atomic Bomb Drops on Hiroshima 1945: Japanese Surrender During World War One and World War Two democracy was very limited. Mainly because the central rights of our Constitution such as freedom of speech, were taken away. Not only was freedom of speech taken away but basic rights were restricted as well. Most people during this time period were afraid of the government gaining more power, and becoming much like a monarchy. Although more government power did happen, people tried not to reject it too much because they wanted to remain safe. This was because of the threatening wars that America was involved in. These events showed a glimpse of Republicanism. On the other hand democracy was also increasing because African American and Women’s rights were drastically expanding. This is strictly because the working men had to go off and fight in World War One and Two, leaving women and American Americans to run shops and businesses back home. --- "American Soldiers in World War I." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 19 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during this time period would be Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. 1901: Theodore Roosevelt is elected President 1903: Panama revolts against Colombia rule making it hard to construct an American canal 1904: President Roosevelt announces the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe doctrine 1906: Pure Food and Drug Act 1908: Muller v Oregon 1909: William Howard Taft elected President 1910: President Roosevelt’s new nation speech 1913: The 16th Amendment 1913: 17th amendment 1913: Federal Reserve System is established 1917: President Wilson makes a speech to congress to declare war against Germany saying “the world must be made safe for democracy.” 1917: US declares war on the Central Powers 1917: President creates Committee on Public Information to censor newspapers and magazines 1917: Military draft 1917: Espionage Act 1918: President Wilson issues his ‘14th point’ 1919: Versailles peace Treaty 1919: 18th Amendment 1919: Prohibition 1919: Senate fails to ratify the Versailles peace treaty 1920: Senate votes to join the League of Nations 1920: Women’s suffrage amendment to the US constitution is ratified (19th amendment) Major and Significant foreign affairs: 1910: Mexican Revolution begins 1914: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand 1914: Panama Canal officially opens During the Progressivism era, many new amendments were being created to give the people more power. Specifically the 17th and 19th amendments gave exclusive power to the people because these amendments allowed the direct election of senators (17th) and women’s suffrage (19th). In addition to these amendments the right of free speech was also created to protect the individual and minority. As well as being given these rights many people during this time felt compelled to clean up communities and create parks, as well as eliminate the previous corruption of government. In turn the government created laws such as labor protection and minimum wage to help support the people. Although these amendments and government programs exercised the power of democracy during this time period, segregation and disfranchisement were still very prevalent in society. ---- "Buy Before It's Too Late!" American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 19 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during the Gilded Age would be Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland (second term) and William McKinley. Major and Significant domestic affairs during the time would be: 1878: Senate defeats a women’s suffrage amendment 34-161879: Thomas Edison invents the light bulb 1881: Garfield is elected president 1881: President Garfield is assassinated 1881: Chester Arthur is elected President 1882: Pace vs. Alabama 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act 1833: Civil Rights act- Supreme Court rules that it only forbids state imposed discrimination 1884: Grover Cleveland becomes President 1885: Grove Cleveland is elected president 1886: President Cleveland unveils statue of liberty 1887: Rutherford B Hayes is elected President 1889: Benjamin Harrison is elected president 1892: Ellis Island Opens to Immigrants 1893: Grove Cleveland is elected president 1896: Plessy v Ferguson 1897: William McKinley is elected president 1898: Spanish- American War 1898: President McKinley signs a resolution that annexes Hawaii The Gilded age was thought to be an era that was “glittering on the surface but corrupted underneath.” From this era there were many positive reforms that the government designed they included laws that helping the economy, business, schools, and the rise of cities. This portrayed republicanism because the government designed certain laws that benefited the people. Politically, however the Gilded age was very corrupted. Congress held most of the power; thus the representation of the state was limited. From the perspective of the state government leaders and politicians were very corrupt. For example a running politician would hire others to bribe and force the population to vote for them. They would give a fake promise to the voters and this idea eliminated democracy all together. Also, there were many issues regarding immigrants specifically Asians because they were treated poorly. This was going against republicanism because the government was not protecting the given rights of the minorities provided by the constitution. ---- "Vote Buying." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 19 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during this time period would be Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes. Major and Significant domestic affairs during the time would be: 1865: Presidential Reconstruction 1865: 13th amendment 1866: Congressional Reconstruction 1866: Congress passes the Civil Rights Act over Johnsons veto 1866: Civil Rights Act of 1866 1877: Compromise of 1877 1868: 15th amendment 1867: Reconstruction Act 1867: Election of 1867 1868: 14th Amendment- serves for a basis for applying the rights detailed in the Constitution 1870: First African American to serve in US senate 1872: Susan B. Anthony and other women suffrage advocates get arrested for trying to vote 1875: Civil Rights Act of 1875 1877: Hayes winner of Presidential Election 1877: Hayes begins to withdraw fed troops from South, which marks the official end to Reconstruction. In the Reconstruction era, President Andrew Johnson created the presidential reconstruction, which was his idea that the confederate states should be allowed back into the nation and this promoted unity. The presidential act supported democracy because Andrew Jackson listened to the will of the southern people. However, this never would have happened if congress disagreed with him. This display of action supports republicanism because it gives the government more power; forcing big taxes on the south and making them live under military rule. After government reconstruction, many amendments were formed which supported republicanism because they protected the minority. In addition, adding to the Bill of Rights which guaranteed equality. In the election of 1876 between Hayes and Tilden, there was a tie because 3 states were very disputed on making Hayes the president. The thoughts of democracy were questioned in this election because the will of the people were questioned. After Hayes became president he created the Compromise of 1877 which let the military troops leave the south. Hayes believed the government shouldn't interfere with state affairs. As a result, segregation of African-Americans begins again thus enslavement started all over again. This does not support democracy because African-Americans do not have equal rights. In addition, this does not support republicanism because it challenges the beliefs of several amendments. ---- "The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the first piece of federal civil rights legislation to be enacted..." U*X*L Encyclopedia of U.S. History. Sonia Benson, Daniel E. Brannen, Jr., and Rebecca Valentine. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker and Sarah Hermsen. Vol. 2. Detroit: UXL, 2009. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 19 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during this time period would be Abraham Lincoln. Major and Significant domestic affairs during the time would be: 1860- 1861: States leave the US 1861: Abraham Lincoln elected President 1861: Union forces capture of Port Royal 1862: Lincoln signs Homestead Act 1863: Lincoln signs Emancipation Proclamation 1863: Congress passes the National Bank Act 1863: Gettysburg Address 1863: Congress requires all males to register for military service 1863: Battle of Gettysburg 1864: Battle of Mobile Bay 1865: On good Friday; Lincoln is shot, dies the next morning 1865: The 13th amendment added to the US- Abolishes slavery 1865: South Surrenders The Civil War era began with the famous election of 1860. From this election Lincoln became president because he had the most votes but he did not have the majority, he only had 40%. This caused a lot of controversy on whether or not Lincoln should actually be President. This is because this was not the vote of the majority. Although this happened Lincoln became President because no other candidate had more votes. Shortly after, the north fought in the Civil War for republicanism because they believed in protection of the minority (which at this time would be the slaves.) President Lincoln was opposed to slavery and was also a republican. With these ideals he led the north to victory. On the other side of the spectrum the south fought on the other side of the civil war for democracy because they believed in the majority and wanted the power within their own kind. This power allowed them to rule over slaves. Luckily the Emancipation Proclamation was created in 1863. This declared equal rights to everyone even slaves, which supporting democracy. However, the civil war continued until 1865 and this period was a time of much debate over both republicanism and democracy. ----- "Reading First Draft of Emancipation Proclamation." The Civil War. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 2010. American Journey. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during the Pre Civil War time period would be Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan. Major and Significant domestic affairs: 1848: Election of 1848 1850: CA wants to be a state 1850: Millard Fillmore was elected president 1850: Compromise of 1850 1853: Franklin Pierce was elected President 1857: James Buchanan was elected President 1857: Dread Scott vs. Stanford 1858: Lincoln accepts nomination for US senate 1861: Abraham Lincoln was elected President During the Pre- Civil War Era California was cut down the middle because of the Missouri Compromise line. This line created a lot of confusion of whether or not California would emitted as a slave state or a free state. The result to this problem ended up with popular sovereignty, which supported democracy because it allowed for each new state to be given an opportunity to vote on whether their state will be a free or slave state. A few years later the same situation with Kansas started. This situation supported democracy as the people were able to determine the outcome of the state, instead of the government. In addition to popular sovereignty, tighter fugitive slave laws were established. This supported republicanism because it was a governmental law and did not guarantee equal rights. In addition, this era was the first of reform because public schools started emerging and this supported democracy as everyone has equal rights to the new schools. Many reformers began to stop the of alcohol in addition to hospitals for the mentally ill. Slavery also became a growing problem because African-Americans were not given equal rights, this did not support democracy. This serious issue led to a separation of the nation and later led to the Civil War, with different sides fighting over one main issue: slavery. --- "Abraham Lincoln." The Constitution and Supreme Court. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 2010. American Journey. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.
The Presidents during this time period would be James Monroe 1817-1825, John Quincy Adams 1825-1829, Andrew Jackson 1829-1837, Martin Van Buren 1837-1841 The Major and Significant domestic events during this time period would be: 1828: Election of 1828 1829: Andrew Jackson elected President 1829: Mexico forbids further US immigration into Texas and reconfirms its prohibition of slavery 1830: Jackson signed the Indian Removal Acts 1832: Black Hawk War 1832: Calhoun becomes first Vice President to resign 1833: Jackson signs Clays compromise Tariff 1834: US Senate vote to censure Jackson 1835: US free from debt 1835: First attempt to kill a president (Jackson) 1836: Texas declares independence from Mexico 1837: Martin Van Buren Elected President 1841: William Henry Harrison was elected president; dies after 30 days in office 1841: Creole Affair 1841: John Tyler was elected president 1842: The Dorr War 1842: Commonwealth vs. Hunt 1845: James K. Polk was elected president 1848: First women’s right convention held- Seneca Falls Convention Major and Significant Foreign Affairs: 1841: British refused to return Creole slaves, -Indians Appropriations Act (removal of Indian's from expanding westward) During the Jacksonian era, the percentage of eligible voters who actually voted increased dramatically. This meant that there were more individuals were participating in politics and voicing their own opinion, which is the main idea of democracy. The election of 1828 greatly affected democracy because Jackson supported and stood for the common man. Before Jackson, an individual had to be educated in order to participate in politics, but Jackson believed that the common man had the knowledge to know what's right and does not need to be properly educated. Jackson believed the power is within the individual. Also Jackson wanted to downsize the central government. Once elected, he did look out for the people, but he also focused mainly on strengthening his own personal power. This was not very democratic because he granted himself more authority, instead of giving it to the people. The role of democracy is questionable because he took it to the extreme. He even lets any ‘commoner’ into the White House, which gets completely destroyed in the madness. In addition the Missouri Compromise was created in 1820 and showed Republicanism when the government created a law that stated all states north of Missouri must be free, and the states below must be hold slaves. The Jacksonian era ended with the Seneca Falls Convention, which was the first convention to support women’s rights. This convention was the first time anyone challenged the Declaration of Independence. In the Convention they used the first amendment (under the bill of rights) to help this change. --- "Early womens rights leader Elizabeth Cady Stanton. ©." Reconstruction Era Reference Library. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker, et al. Vol. 1: Almanac. Detroit: UXL, 2005. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 25 Sept. 2010.
The presidents during this time period would be Thomas Jefferson and Monroe. The Major and Significant domestic events during this time period: 1800: Election (of Jefferson) – James Bayard 1801: John Marshall is appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court 1802: Louisiana Purchase 1804: Louis and Clark 1804: 12th Amendment 1808: Congress prohibits slave trade 1812: The war of 1812 1820: Missouri Compromise 1824: Corrupt bargain of 1824 1826: Anti- Masonic Party 1827: First African American newspaper published The major and significant foreign affairs during this time period: 1807: The Embargo of 1807 In the election of 1800 James Bayard changed his vote from Burr to Jefferson. This was a moment of republicanism. This is because even though the federalist state of Delaware wanted Burr, Bayard chooses Jefferson. This is completely against the vote of the people, and even his own beliefs because he was a federalist. Although this was not the right thing to do, republicanism states that the supreme power rests in the people, although the representatives have the power to act on their own, and this is exactly what James Bayard did. The reason for this was because, Bayard was afraid that the Union would collapse – and his state of Deleware- if there was no president. Even though the people did not agree with this Bayard did what he thought was right by representing the smallest State in the Union. This was one of the most controversial topics in the 1800 elections, and was a critical point that helped shape our country. --- "Chief Justice JohnMarshall." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. History: Government and Politics. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 25 Sept. 2010.
The President during the New Age would be George Washington and John Adams. Major and Significant foreign affairs: 1789: French Revolution begins Major and Significant domestic affairs: 1789: Presidential Electors are choosen 1789: First Congress convenes in New York 1789: George Washington is voted President, John Adams is elected Vice President 1789: Congress establishes its first tax (8.5%) 1789: Tonnage Act & Federal Jurisdiction Act 1789: Bill of Rights 1789: US army established --- In the era of the New Nation, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution, guaranteeing certain rights to the citizens that can never be taken away. These rights supported the minority while democracy and the anti-federalists believed in the majority; they were still in favor of the Bill of Rights as they restricted the guaranteed rights. The federalists were also pleased with these rights because they were guaranteed, protecting the minority. The Bill of Rights in a way combined republicanism and democracy, making the United States a mix of republicanism and a democracy. During the New Nation President Adams created three laws which, VP Jefferson did not support. This caused a Quasi-War and corruption within the government. The purpose of these laws would be to let little interfere with his party and ideas and produce more power for him. Neither republicanism nor democracy was shown in this Quasi-War because these laws went against the first Amendment. In addition the people did not benefit because they granted the central government more power. --- "Washington Taking Command." The American Revolution. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media, 2010. American Journey. Gale U.S. History In Context. Web. 4 Sept. 2010. , James G. "The Gilder Lehrman Institute. Modules on American History." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History . Home. Institute of American History, 2009. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. .
There were no presidents during this time period although George Washington was commander and chief. Major and Significant foreign affairs: 1783: British recognizes USA's independence Major and Significant domestic incidents: September 1786: issued a call for a second convention 1781: Rev War Ends 1781: Articles of Confederation Signed 1786 to 1787: Shays Rebellion 1787: US Constitution written 1787-1788: Madison and Jay wrote 85 essays that argued the power of national government 1789: Constitutional Convention May 25th 1789: delegates from 7 states had arrived to help convention When America first started out, it was focused entirely on being a true democracy, as far away from the monarchy in Europe as possible. Although after a few years it was discovered that this form of pure democracy was too radical and was not working completely. Thus the Articles of Confederation were replaced with the Constitution which worried many because it is more republican. The Anti-Federalists were worried of America turning into a monarchy like Europe or France, but the federalists supported the new document because they thought it was a better fit and balanced the government with the state. This document was supported by George Washington and James Madison, who were the main contributors. Democracy main idea is about power to the state and indirectly the people. However with the Constitution, the central government received more power than it was granted. Some of these powers would be collecting taxes, regulating trade, declaring war. In general, this era gravitated towards republicanism because it was more realistic to follow. ----- "The signing of the U.S. Constitution." Political Theories for Students. Ed. Matthew Miskelly and Jaime Noce. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Gale World History In Context. Web. 29 Aug. 2010.
During the Revolutionary War there was no President, although George Washington was the appointed commander and chief. Major and Significant domestic incidents during this time period would include: Age of Enlightenment, John Locke (1650s-1800s) Great Awakening (Enlightenment questioned) (1720-1760) 1774: Currency Act 1774: Taxing 1774: Virginia opposing British Policies 1774: 1st Continental Congress meets 1775: George Washington is appointed commander in chief 1775: Lexington and Concord 1775: Parliament declares MA in rebellion 1776: Declaration of Independence Major and Significant foreign affairs during this time period would include: 1751: British government vetoes colonial law 1754: Britain and France go to war 1763: Parliament won’t let colonists buy land past the Appellations 1764: Parliament decides to impose charges on colonial trade ( Stamp Act, Declaratory Act and Tea Act) The role of democracy during the Revolutionary War marks the beginning of true American government. This era was about establishing democracy and using this established democracy on new government. Democracy is shown early on with events such as the 1st Continental Congress meeting and discussing effective ways to govern. During this era many colonists started challenging authority and new ideas. At this point in America’s development the word democracy was closely tied with freedom. For example the Declaration of Independence created power that rested in the people. This idea was the exact opposite of a monarchy. Although American rule differed from European Countries the Currency Act, Stamp Act, and Tea Act all reminded the colonies that European rule was still present. ------ Revolutionary War battle." Science and Its Times. Ed. Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale World History In Context. Web. 29 Aug. 2010.
Update Sources