Party" is said to have been "the boldest stroke which had yet been struck in America for its independence." 1774-78-Became a vigorous delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, during which time he emerged a leader in the movement for Ameri can independence. Seconded the nomination of Washington as commander in chief of the army; advocated creation of a naval force; formulated foreign policy principles; and helped write the resolution of May 10, 1776, declaring American independence. Jefferson wrote that during congressional debate on the Declaration of Independence, Adams was "its ablest advocate and defender against the multifarious assaults it encountered." 1776-As Chairman of the Board of War and Ordnance, he helped to develop and equip an army. 1778-88-Entered the Diplomatic Service, first as a commissioner to the Court of France, where he served with Benjamin Franklin; later, as a minister to England and then to Holland. In 1782 he won recognition of American Independence by The Hague. Together with Jay and Jefferson, he negotiated the Treaty of 1783 with Great Britain, which ended the Revolutionary War. In 1785, he was appointed the first American minister to the Court of St. James, a post he held until his return to America in 1788. 1788-In the first election held under the Constitution, Adams was elected the first Vice President of the United States; he was reelected in 1792. During his administration as Vice President, policy differences led to the formulation of two political parties the Federalist (of which Adams had been a leader) and the Democratic Republicans. Like Washington, Adams withdrew from partisan politics, leadership of the Federalist Party passing to Alexander Hamilton. By 1792, the followers of Jefferson called themselves Republicans, but the Republican Party of today had its beginning in the 1850's. 1796- On the retirement of Washington, Adams was elected President; Jefferson, the leader of the opposition party, became Vice President. 1797-Following his inauguration on March 4, Adams' approach to the problems of his office was one of moderation. The Hamiltonians felt he was too conciliatory to the opposition; the Jeffersonians became increasingly hostile. Adams' attempts to achieve political harmony and end partisan politics at home met with little success. American policy was to remain neutral in the war between the British and the French. The Directory in France, feeling that the United States was proBritish because of the Jay Treaty, broke off commercial relations and refused to accept an American envoy except by payment of a bribe. Despite the war fever which broke out for an all-out showdown, Adams began to formulate what later proved to be a prudent course of action-intensive preparation for war but at the same time he gave equal attention to a program designed to settle the issues peacefully through negotiation. 1798—Although the President did not ask the Congress for a declaration of war, he did ask for, and was given, funds to establish a provincial army. Authority was given the President to arm merchant ships, as well as to establish a Department of the Navy. Included in the naval authorization were funds to build three new frigates. One of these ships, the CONSTITUTION, whose decks "once red with heroes' blood" still remains commissioned in the U.S. Navy. It is berthed at the Boston Navy Yard. As a means of coping with and driving out hostile foreign agents and sympathizers, Adams supported the Alien and Sedition Acts which authorized imprisonment of aliens whose motherland was at war with the United States, and which made it a high misdemeanor to unlawfully combine and conspire against the Government of the United States. 1799 Notwithstanding the strong opposition in the Congress and in his own Cabinet, Adams appointed a minister to the French Republic, proposing a peace commission. 1800 As the sea lanes were cleared by U.S. warships and armed merchantmen, the long period of diplomatic negotiation and cautious action on the part of the President, led to a peace with the French Government on September 30, 1800. It was an honorable peace, one which preserved the neutrality of the United States. Adams arrived in Washington on November 1, 1800. He took up residence in the still unfinished presidential residence later to be known as the White House. The following day he closed a letter to his wife with the words which now appear on a mantle in the White House: "I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all men that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." 1801-Defeated for a second term in office by Thomas Jefferson, Adams retired to his home, the Old House, which is now a historic site in Quincy, OBV. Th. Jefferson, President of the United States, A.D. 1801. Bust of the President. REV. Peace and Friendship. Two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes and as many buttons; the other wrist bears a wristband ornamented by an eagle; above the hands, a pipe of peace and a tomahawk crossed. By John Reich. THOMAS JEFFERSON "I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD ETERNAL HOSTILITY AGAINST EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN" 1743-Born on April 13, at Shadwell (Albermarle County), Va.; the oldest son of Peter Jefferson who died in 1757. FRIENDSHIP 1760-After private tutoring in the classics, he attended the College of William and Mary at Williamsburg, Va. Studied law under George Wythe who, in his generation, was Virginia's greatest jurist. 1767-After admission to the bar, Jefferson commenced the practice of law which he continued until 1774 when the courts were closed by the American Revolution. 1769-Became a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he served until 1775. This early public service developed in Jefferson a lifelong interest in the rights of an individual to have a voice in government. Jefferson's activity in the House of Burgesses, and in later public posts, was as a writer rather than as a speaker. 1770-Began to build "Monticello", his new home, located near Charlottesville, Va. 1772-Married Mrs. Martha Wayles Skelton, daughter of John Wayles, an eminent Virginia lawyer. Of the six children born of this marriage, only two sur vived infancy. 1773-Chosen a member of the first Committee of Correspondence established by the Colonial Legislature. 1774 Prepared A Summary View of the Rights of America for the use of the Virginia delegates to the Continental Congress, in which he made a notable contribution to the patriot cause by presenting his views on natural rights, including that of emigration. This document attacked the supremacy of Parliament over the colonies and recognized no tie with England except through its King. This treatise won for Jefferson the chairmanship of the committee selected to draft the Declaration of Independence which, in great measure, is a restatement of the principles set forth in the "Summary." 1775-Member of the Continental Congress. As a member of the Committee of Five, Jefferson wrote the basic draft of the Declaration of Independence. This basic charter of American liberty, was adopted July 4, 1776, after minor changes by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and the Congress. 1776-Resigned his seat in the Congress and returned to Monticello, partly for personal reasons, but also for the purpose of revising the laws of Virginia so as to reflect his own philosophy of human rights. For this reason, he served in the Virginia Legislature from 1776 until his selection as Governor of Virginia in 1779, a post he held until 1781. As Governor of Virginia, Jefferson was called upon to resist the British invasion of that State. Jefferson's service in the legislature and as Governor of Virginia was marked by his outstanding success in obtaining legislation in broad areas. Foremost in this respect was a statute establishing religious freedom, including the right of each to worship according to his own conscience, and to discontinue State support of an established church through taxation. Other reforms served to broaden the electorate through a system of more equitable representation, and to eliminate feudal vestiges of land laws relating to primogeniture and entail. While the mood of the time did not favor abolishment of slavery, legislation was enacted to prevent the further importation of slaves into Virginia. 1782-Appointed by Congress as minister plenipotentiary to act with others in Europe in negotiating a treaty of peace with Great Britain. 1783-85-Member of the Continental Congress. Drew up an ordinance which prohibited slavery in the North West Territory after 1800; though it failed of passage, it did become the basis for the famous North West Ordinance of 1787. Performed notable services connected with the adoption of the decimal system of coinage, with the dollar as a unit of value. (The mint was placed under Jefferson when he became Secretary of State.) 1785-88-Together with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, was sent to Paris to negotiate commerce treaties; then served as Franklin's successor as minister to the King of France. Was able to win. important commercial concessions, and submitted. reports on events related to the development of the French Revolution. 1789 Washington appointed Jefferson as the first Secretary of State. Jefferson's strong faith in the principle that a government derives its power from the consent of the governed brought him into conflict with the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, an exponent of executive control based on the doctrine of "implied powers." With reluctance, Washington accepted Jefferson's resignation as Secretary of State on December 31, 1793, when the latter returned to Monticello. 1797-Recalled from private life, he made himself avail able as a presidential candidate, running on the Republican ticket. A difference of three electoral votes resulted in the election of John Adams as President; whereupon Jefferson became Vice Presi dent, an office he held until 1801. Utilizing his experience as President of the Senate, he compiled and published a "Manual of Parliamentary Practice." Jefferson also became president of the American Philosophical Society, a post which he occupied for many years. Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, this is the oldest learned society in America. Jefferson was a strong opponent of the Alien and Sedition Acts (which, nonetheless became law) on the basis that they attempted to suppress freedom of speech and destroy political opposition. 1800 In the presidential election this year, the Federalists were defeated, and the Republican candidates Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received identical electoral votes. The contest was thrown into the House of Representatives where, after 36 roll calls, Jefferson (with the aid of Hamilton) was elected as President of the United States. He was the first President to be inaugurated in Washington. The defeat of the Federalists dispelled in Jefferson's mind such fears as he had of the establishment of a monarchy in the United States. His inaugural address extended the olive branch to the opposition party and proved to be effective in establishing his leadership over the Congress. In his Cabinet, Madison was Secretary of State; Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury; Dearborn, Secretary of War; Robert Smith, Secretary of the Navy; and Lincoln, Attorney General. 1803-The major achievement of Jefferson's first term was the purchase of Louisiana from Napoleon for $15 million. This was the beginning of a program which eventually extended the boundaries of the United States to the Pacific. The negotiations leading to the purchase of Louisiana were handled by the American Minister to Paris, Robert R. Livingston together with James Monroe who was appointed by Jefferson as a special envoy. Jefferson was less successful in his efforts to curb what he felt was partisanship on the part of judges in the U.S. courts. As one of his last acts in office, Adams had appointed John Marshall as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. A strong Federalist, Marshall had the support of a number of judges of his own party (the "midnight judges") who were also appointed by Adams on the eve of his departure from the White House. In the famous opinion of Marbury v. Madison, handed down by Chief Justice Marshall, the Court established its authority to declare invalid any Federal legislation which it deemed to be in conflict with the Constitution. Placed Commodore Edward Preble in command of the CONSTITUTION, to lead the Mediterranean squadron against the pirates of Tripoli. Unprotected by naval strength, American commerce had fallen prey to marauding Barbary corsairs. Selected his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark, to head an expedition for the exploration of the West. When Lewis and Clark departed, they carried with them medals bearing the likeness of Jefferson for presentation to the Indian Chiefs. 1804-Reelected to the Presidency. Jefferson's new administration was beleaguered with problems caused by the English-French wars on the continent. Jefferson maintained American neutrality, in large degree, by resort to economic measures such as the Non-Importation Act of 1806, and the Embargo Act of 1807. Economic distress led to a partial lifting of the embargo restrictions in 1809. 1809-Retired to Monticello where the last years of his life were absorbed with the establishment of the University of Virginia, a milestone in higher public education. 1826-Died on July 4 at Monticello. For his tomb he chose the inscription: "Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of Louisiana Purchase Treaty-April 30, 1803, 8 Stat. 200. Bank of the United States Act March 23, 1804, 2 Stat. 274. OBV. James Madison, President of the United States, A.D. 1809. Bust of the President. REV. Peace and Friendship. Two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes and as many buttons; the other wrist is bare; above the hands, a pipe of peace and a tomahawk crossed. By John Reich. JAMES MADISON, "Father of the Constitution" 1751-Born on March 16, at Port Conway, King George County, Va.; the son of James Madison, the family being of English descent and among the early settlers of Virginia. 1771-Graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University); took 1 year of postgraduate work in theology. While still young, was distinguished for sound judgment, industry, and patriotism. 1774 Began his public career by serving as a member of the Committee of Safety for Orange County, Va.-one of many such committees which sprang up throughout the colonies for the purpose of kindling and keeping alive the revolutionary spirit. These committees, in turn aided in the formulation of provincial congresses which were the revolutionary governing bodies of the colonies concerned. The First Continental Congress which met in 1774 was organized as a result of the efforts of FRIENDSHIP the revolutionary committees and provincial congresses. 1776 Delegate to the Virginia Convention; served on a committee to draft a constitution for the State of Virginia; worked with Thomas Jefferson to achieve a Declaration of Rights (not adopted) to make the free exercise of religion a matter of right rather than one of toleration. 1777-Was a leader in the first General Assembly of Virginia; appointed the following year by Governor Patrick Henry to the Executive Council of the Assembly. 1780-83-Elected a delegate from Virginia to the Con tinental Congress, he proved to be one of its most vocal and effective leaders in working for the establishment of a central government. He advocated extension of the powers of Congress, authority of the Government to impose import duties as a means of paying the public debt, American navigation of the Mississippi without interference from Spain, and opposed the further issuance of paper money by the States. 1783-Returned to Virginia; studied law; was a delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates. 1786-Appointed as one of the delegates to a convention at Annapolis, Md., to devise a system of commercial regulations for all the States. Upon their recommendations, a convention of delegates from |