Legislation


 * Northwest Ordinance - Act passed in 1787 by the Continental Congress, organizing territory in the Northwest, making it available for sale.
 * Articles of Confederation - First basis of law based in the United States, it had many weaknesses however, such as: unicameral legislation, central gov't too weak, no power to tax, unanimous approval was needed by states, no power to regulate commerce ---> competition between state/federal
 * Judiciary Act of 1801 - Better organization of the court's system: reduced supreme court judges #, circuit courts, called to be the "Midnight Judges" - Adams was signing the act at midnight before Jefferson's inauguration.
 * XYZ Affair - During Adam's presidency, France demanded compensation for their aid in the success in the American Revolution, $12 million +. Adams sent 3 representatives to France to meet with the three French agents, X,Y, &Z.
 * Tea Act - Passed by parliament in 1773, the final straw for the revolutionary rebels in Boston. Due to this the Boston Tea Party occurred, both were key factors in the final process of the American revolution.
 * navigation Act - A series of laws introduced by parliament to restrict trade for the English colonies, this would give England less commerce competition.
 * Stamp Act - Introduced after the French & Indian war in order to pay for war debt to England. This was one of the first obvious signs of taxation without representation, colonists were finally starting to show resistance.
 * The New Deal - President Franklin Roosevelt introduced a long series of legislation in order to revive American life during the Great Depression. the key parts passed were: Social Security, CCC, AAA, Federal Emergency Banking relief Admin, Industrial national reflief admin, pure food/drug act
 * Open Door - Policy generated in the 1900s when imperialistic powers of Europe and Asia were invading China. The US wanted to keep an "open door" for themselves with trade, but no diplomatic involvement.
 * Kansas-nebraska - legislation declaring Kansas & Nebraska states with popular sovereignty, repealed the old MO compromise line.
 * Non-Intercourse - last 4 days of jefferson's presidency, he replaced the Embargo Act of 1807 with this ineffective one, it was meant to damage France & the UK but ended up leading to the war of 1812.
 * The Great Society - President johnson's series of legislation aimed towards aiding the poor and needy. Includes Head Start, two Civil Rights Acts, Voting Rights Acts, endowments for arts/humanities, education acts, Medicaid, medicare.
 * The New Frontier - President Kennedy's series of legislation, mostly unsuccessful, blocked by members of congress & the houses. Kennedy never got to see his war on poverty finished, but Johnson continued on with it.
 * Fugitive Slave Act - Act passed in 1850 along with the Compromise of 1850, establishing that anyone who aided a slave in escaping, or a slave who escaped could face inprisonment, and a hefty fine.
 * Alien Sedition Act - Part of the Federalists crusade on managing immigration. four acts were passed under this series:
 * Naturalization Act - changed rate at which one could become a US citizen
 * Alien Enemies Act - Authorized the president to deport any alien in their home country if at war with the US
 * Sedition Act - made it a crime to publish false or malicious writing.
 * Alien Act - Authorized the president to deport anyone who posed a threat to the country
 * Espionage & Sedition Acts - WWI support acts passed by Wilson: gave postmaster right to declare violating material as treason, crime to claim falsehoods about the war/government
 * Emancipation Proclamation - President Lincoln declared this in 1863, hoping to weaken the seceded southern states by freeing their slaves. It did not end slavery, but captured the hearts of many & changed the face of the war.
 * Compromise of 1850 - Declared all slavery about the 36'30 line illegal, except for Missouri. It also added ME as a free state. Key event leading to the Civil War, it avoided the issue of a permanent decision.
 * Civil Rights Act - 1964, landmark legislation eliminating racial segregation, ending unequal voter registries, and segregated schools.
 * National Bank Charter - national bank of the united states applied and recieved a charter
 * Neutrality Acts - During WWI, Wilson declared neutrality, the United States did not follow these declarations however. They had specific ties to the allied powers through commerce, etc. Eventually other pushes caused them to join the war.
 * 14th Amendment - Citizenship clause, overrode the Dred Scott Decision; equal protection for all a states' citizens.
 * Gulf of Tonkin - Gulf of Tonkin Resolution - Congress gave Truman the authority to take all necessary measures in the Vietnam War.
 * Interstate Commerce - First legislative act to regulate private businesses, regulated the railroad industry.
 * Sherman Anti-Trust Act - First legislative act to regulate monopolies, gave the government the power to investigate companies violating monoply laws.
 * 21st Amendment - 1933, repealed the 18th Amendment - prohibition.

__**Native American Policies**__
 * __1830; Indian Removal Act__- Removed all native nations from the southern colonies and moved them to "Indian Territory," now Oklahoma.
 * __1851; Concentration Policy__- created a buffer zone between the natives and where the whites were working on the railroads in For Laramie
 * __1887; The Dawes Act__- An attempt to Americanize the Native Americans by providing them with land at their reservations, or citizenship if they stopped tribal practices.
 * __1924; Indian Citizenship Act__- Granted American citizenship to all of the indigenous Americans.
 * __1953; Indian Reorganization Act__- Authorized tribes to start businesses, and gave them all unsold Indian lands back.
 * __1953; Termination Policy__- Ended federal services to the Indians (health care, education, welfare) Divided their lands among tribes; taxable lands now. Also started tribal self government, which relocated the natives to cities with jobs