1787
The Constitution is signed
Thirty-nine delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia sign the proposed Constitution and send it to the states for ratification.
Source: National Archives
The founding. 1787–1800
The Constitution is drafted, ratified and put into operation. The Bill of Rights is added, the federal courts are organized, and the first party conflict produces the Alien and Sedition Acts.
The questions. As the record frames them.
The constitutional questions this era’s decisions and laws turned on.
- How far does federal power reach?
- What does freedom of the press protect against the government?
The record. 8 entries, in order.
Every case, amendment and event in Constilumen dated 1787 to 1800.
1788
New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify
With nine of thirteen states, the threshold set by Article VII is met and the Constitution is established among the ratifying states.
Source: National Archives
1789
Judiciary Act of 1789
Congress establishes the federal court system and sets the Supreme Court at six Justices.
Source: National Archives
1789
Congress proposes the Bill of Rights
The First Congress sends twelve amendments to the states; ten are ratified in 1791 as the Bill of Rights.
Source: National Archives
1791
The Bill of Rights (Amendments I–X)
The first ten amendments: freedoms of religion, speech, press and assembly; the right to bear arms; protections for the accused; and powers reserved to the states and the people.
Source: National Archives
1793
Chisholm v. Georgia
Yes. Federal judicial power extended to suits brought against a state by a citizen of another state.
Source: Opinion of the Court
1795
Eleventh Amendment: Suits against states
Federal judicial power does not extend to suits against a state by citizens of another state or of a foreign country.
Source: National Archives
1798
Alien and Sedition Acts
Four laws passed during the undeclared naval war with France extend the residency period for naturalization, authorize deportation of non-citizens, and make it a crime to publish “false, scandalous and malicious writing” against the government.
Source: National Archives
The language. What stood out in print.
Tracked terms printed most often in 1789–1800 compared with their own average across 1789–2022. A value of 2× means the word appeared twice as often as usual.
- tyranny3.5×
- liberty2.8×
- martial law1.3×
- habeas corpus1.3×
- rule of law0.7×
- patriotism0.6×
Executive orders. Presidencies of the era.
Totals for each full presidency, including years outside the era. Counts before 1945 include unnumbered orders.
| President | Took office | Orders | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington | 1789 | 8 | 1 |
| John Adams | 1797 | 1 | 0.25 |
Source: The American Presidency Project. All presidencies