Legislation

Ordinances of 1784 & 1785 - Divided western lands into regions that could later apply for statehood.

Judiciary Act of 1789 - The Supreme Court had the power to force executive officials (such as the president) to do certain things such as delivering commissions

Alien Act of 1798 - In order to become a U.S. citizen, foreigners had to go through many more obstacles; President --> more control over the number of foreigners coming into the U.S.

Sedition Act of 1798 - The government had the power to prosecute people who rebelled or went against them.

Judiciary Act of 1801 - Reduce number of supreme court judges by 1; increased # of federal judges.

1808 - Importing of slaves = illegal.

United States Laws Regarding Native Americans
Indian Removal Act of 1830 - Forces Native Americans ( the "Five Civilized Tribes" ) to lands west of the Mississippi River and out of the Southern lands.

Concentration Policy of 1850s - Indian tribes were assigned to a reservation bound by treaties that were not made by the representatives of the Natives. It divided the Indian tribes and made it easier for the whites to control them.

Indian Peace Commission of 1867 - Moving Indians into two large reservations in present day Oklahoma and the Dakotas instead of having the "Concentration" policy after many bloody conflicts.

Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 - Worked to eliminate Indian ownership of lands & limited the amount of lands they could own.

Burke Act of 1906 - In an effort to Americanize them, Indians were given more rights. Once they were classified as "Americanized" they were able to take control of their own lands and gain citizenship.

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 - John Collier wanted to preserve Indian Tribes --> Indians within a tribe were able to reunite tribes by owning thier own land.

Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 - Gave Indians many of the same rights that citizens receive with the Bill of Rights; Recognized that tribal laws are valid inside of reservations.

Missouri Compromise 1819 - Missouri would be admitted as a slave state; Maine as a free state; Bans other slavery in Louisiana Purchase territory.

The Monroe Doctrine 1823 - America would not interfere with European affairs; European countries can not colonize American lands.

Distribution Act 1836 - Since the national gov. was earning a lot of money off of tariffs, they gave extra money back to the states in 4 loan installments each year - they were not to be paid back.

Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 - Idea of popular sovereignty - state itself can choose whether it wants to be a free state or a slave state - caused the "bleeding Kansas" - violent rebellions.

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 - All runaway slaves have to be returned to their masters no matter how long ago they ran away or how far they run.

Confiscation Act of 1861 - African American Slaves who were forced to support the Confederacy by fighting in the war = free.  Second Confiscation Act of 1862 - African American slaves who were owned by supporters of the Confederacy = free.

Homestead Act of 1862 - Settlers could buy 160 acres of land for a low price if live in the land for five years and improve it.

Black Codes of 1865 - Laws passed in the Southern states to limit black rights - whites were still seen as superior to the blacks and had more rights.

Tenure of Office Act of 1867 - Senate must approve before the president can remove a government official.

Enforcement Act of 1870 and 1871 (Ku Klux Klan Acts) - Voters can not be discriminated against because of race & federal government can secede state courts and prosecute violators of the law.

Timber Culture Act of 1873 - Homesteaders get 160 acres if they plant trees on 40 acres of it.

Desert Land Act of 1877 - Could buy 640 acres of land for $1.25 an acre if they irrigate part of their holdings within 3 years.

Timber and Stone Act of 1878 - Nonarable land for $2.50 an acre.

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 - Chinese who are already living in the U.S. can not become naturalized citizens and Chinese are not allowed to immigrate into the U.S. for ten years.

Morrill Land Grant Act (Civil War Era) - Federal Government donated land to States in order to establish/build colleges/universities.

Pendleton Act of 1883 - Those who wanted a federal job had to pass a fairly competitive written exams.

Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 - To try to prevent corporations from becoming to large and to keep monopolies from forming - was not effective.

Currency Act of 1900 - All paper currency had to be of the same value as it is in gold in order to be used.

Emergency Banking Act of 1933 - Protected the larger banks from being pulled down because of the smaller/weaker banks. All banks had to be inspected by the Treasury before reopening.

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 - Allowed Indians the right to own lands again.

Stamp Act - Required the colonists to buy stamps for all printed material.

Tea Act - Reduced prices of East India tea in the colonies -- Colonists were still angry that they were not given a say in what was happening.

Navigation Act - Colonies were ONLY able to trade with the British.

Emancipation Proclamation - Freed slaves in the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

Civil Rights Act - Gave African Americans the right to vote, equal work opportunities, etc.

Food and Drug Act - Required foods and medicines to be tested/inspected for possible diseases before it could be sold to the public.

The New Frontier - John F. Kennedy - Series of programs and acts passed that promoted education, sciences etc in order to improve the economic and social problems of the nation.

The Great Society - Lyndon Johnson - Program used to help those who were living in poverty -- focused mostly on the lower class.

New Deal - Roosevelt - To help those who were poor -- an attempt at trying to get the American economy out of the Great Depression.

Townsend Act - Taxes on luxurious items such as glass, lead, paint, paper, tea.

3/5 Compromise - When counting the population and deciding on the number of members for the House of Representatives for a state, a slave would count as 3/5 of a person.

13th Amendment - Ended slavery in the U.S.

14th Amendment - Equal rights for blacks and whites.

15th Amendment - Blacks have the right to vote.

17th Amendment - Senators are now elected by popular vote.

18th Amendment - Prohibition of alcohol.

19th Amendment - Women's right to vote nationwide.