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

alien-and-sedition-acts-herosize

Alien and Sedition Acts

HISTORY: Federalist Papers

Federalist Papers

shays-rebellion-monument

Shays’ Rebellion

HISTORY: The Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation

historical-collection74

Whiskey Rebellion

gnadenhutten-massacre-2

Gnadenhütten Massacre

Videos