Historical Context

Historical Context


1781-The American Revolution ends on with the surrender of General Cornwallis.
No surprises here. War is a major factor in history.

1789- George Washington is sworn into office as the first President of the United States in New York's Federal Hall on April 30.
He was a member of the American aristocracy that almost embodied Romanticism, throwing off the oppressive yoke of conventional European rule.

1791- Virginia ratifies the Bill of Rights, making the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution law on December 15.
Romanticism is deeply related to the U.S. Constitution, a document that focuses on liberty and natural rights.

1794- Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin, a machine that will revolutionize the economies of Great Britain and the United States.
A revolution in a time of revolution.

1800- The federal government of the United States moves from Philadelphia to its newly constructed capital at Washington, D.C.
It gave the American capital autonomy, which is a tenant of Romanticism.

1812- The United States declares war on Britain. The War of 1812 is the culmination of years of hostility between the two countries, sparked by the impressment of American sailors from their ships and by clashes between American settlers and allied British and Indian forces in the West.
Again, it’s all about the war.

1820-The United States Senate passes the Missouri Compromise, which combines the admission to the Union of free state Maine with the admission of slave state Missouri, thus setting a precedent of keeping an equal number of slave and free states. Slavery is to be excluded from the Union north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Slavery, as is well known, was a major issue of the time. In the same line of though as the Constitution, the debate focused on freedom and liberty.

1830-President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, which authorizes the government to move eastern Indians to western lands, so that the United States can take control of all Indian lands east of the Mississippi.
Trail of Tears, anyone? Yeah, that Indian Removal Act.

1840-After a vigorous campaign, the military hero William Henry Harrison wins the presidency of the United States on the Whig ticket. His main claim to fame is a victorious battle during the War of 1812 at Tippecanoe, and he runs on the catchy, if vacuous, slogan, Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!
Got war?

1850- President Zachary Taylor dies of indigestion after 16 months in office, thought to be brought on by too many iced cherries and milk consumed at the opening of the Washington Monument. Vice President Millard Fillmore takes his place.
American President dies. Pretty significant.


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