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Early US

The years following the American Revolution were challenging for the new nation, which struggled with the Articles of Confederation, Shay's Rebellion, Federalism, the Alien and Sedition Acts and more.

This Federalist Party cartoon, created circa 1800, depicts President George Washington (in heaven) telling partisans to let the three pillars of Federalism, Republicanism and Democracy stand to hold up “Peace and Plenty, Liberty and Independence.” At the left, a Democrat states, “This Pillar shall not stand I am determin’d to support a just and necessary War,” and at the right, a Federalist claims, “This Pillar must come down I am a friend of Peace.”

Federalist Party

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Alien and Sedition Acts

HISTORY: Federalist Papers

Federalist Papers

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Shays’ Rebellion

HISTORY: The Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation

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Whiskey Rebellion

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Gnadenhütten Massacre

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George Armstrong Custer

Videos

Before the U.S. Constitution was the law of the land, there were the Articles of Confederation. Find out why they didn't last long.
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Articles of Confederation

The Pilgrims

Rampant fear among the Puritans in the New England village of Salem sparked attacks against anyone who was suspected of witchcraft.
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Salem Witch Trials

How did the differences between Pilgrims and Puritans help shape the states of New England?
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Puritanism

Jamestown Colony