A New Nation

Spanning the decades between the end of the American Revolution and the end of the War of 1812 (approximately 1783-1815), this period saw the laying of the foundation for A New Nation, including the drafting of the the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Explore the topics below to learn more about this period through newspaper articles and clippings.

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton (born January 11, 1755/57; died July 12, 1804) was one of America’s Founding Fathers. A proponent of a strong central government, Hamilton shaped the early economic infrastructure and policies of the United States. Revolutionary War Born in the British West Indies, Alexander Hamilton moved to the United States in 1772. During the American …Read More

Photo-mechanical print of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Transcendentalist leader

Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism was an early 19th-century philosophical and theological school of thought that merged the ideals of Unitarianism and German Romanticism, prized self-sufficiency, and upheld the inherent goodness of humanity and nature.  Origins of Transcendentalism Transcendentalism loosely began in Massachusetts in the early 1800s, emerging from dissatisfaction with Unitarianism’s emphasis on reason. New beliefs centered on …Read More

US Census

U.S. Census

Background The United States census counts the nation’s population and gathers information on certain characteristics (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, etc.) of people residing in the country. It takes place every 10 years, in years ending in zero. Since 1930, Census Day has been April 1st. A national census is mandated by Article I Section 2 …Read More

Battle of Queenston Heights during War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 (1812–1815) was a conflict fought between the United States, the United Kingdom, and their respective allies. Historians in Britain often see it as a minor theatre of the Napoleonic Wars; in the United States and Canada, it is seen as a war in its own right. Wikipedia Learn more about the …Read More