| 1776 | Declaration of Independence |
| 1777 | British defeated at Saratoga |
| 1778 | French join the war against the British |
| 1781 | Battle of Yorktown Articles of Confederation ratified |
| 1783 | Peace signed in Paris |
| 1784-1787 | Northwest Ordinance of 1784, 1785, and 1787 |
| 1786 | Annapolis Convention |
| 1787 | Shays' Rebellion Constitutional Convention |
| 1788 | Federalist Papers written Constitution ratified |
| 1789 | George Washington inaugurated as President of the United
States French Revolution begins |
| 1790 | Capital placed on the Potomac River |
| 1793 | Citizen Genet |
| 1794 | Whiskey Rebellion Indians defeated at Fallen Timbers |
| 1795 | Jay Treaty, Pinckney Treaty |
| 1798 | Un-declared war with France Alien and Sedition Acts Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions |
| 1800 | Jefferson elected |
