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  • The Crown’s First Fence October 7, 1763

    Proclamation of 1763

    Issued by King George III following the French and Indian War, this proclamation prohibited colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains and reserved the land for Native American tribes.
    This was an early infringement on the colonists’ natural right to property and liberty, as articulated by John Locke and later embraced by the Founders. The British Crown’s centralized authority curtailed economic freedom by restricting settlers’ ability to claim and cultivate land, a right the Founders would see as inherent. It fueled resentment, showing how distant governance ignored local needs, a precursor to later federal overreach. The policy was propagandized as maintaining peace, but it prioritized imperial control over individual agency.

  • Sweet Chains of Tyranny April 5, 1764

    Sugar Act

    The Sugar Act of 1764, also known as the American Revenue Act, was a British law passed to raise revenue from the American colonies by taxing sugar, molasses, and other goods and to combat smuggling. It set the stage for colonial resistance and protests that would later lead to the American Revolution.

    Parliament raised duties on sugar and imports to fund the British military presence, cracking down on smuggling.

  • Paper Chains March 22, 1765

    Stamp Act

    In 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, a direct tax on the American colonies. The Act required a tax stamp on various documents and printed materials, sparking widespread colonial resistance and protests due to the lack of colonial representation in Parliament.

    The British authority enforced the required tax stamps on colonial paper goods.

     

  • Troops at Your Table March 24, 1765

    Quartering Act

    Forced colonists to house and supply British troops in their homes.

  • Duty's Dominion June 29, 1767

    Townshend Acts

    Imposed duties on tea, glass, and other imports, funding colonial governors.

  • Harbor Lockdown March 31, 1774

    Boston Port Act

    Closed Boston’s port as punishment for the Tea Party, under the Intolerable Acts.

  • Coercive Chains May 20, 1774

    Intolerable Acts

    Series of laws strengthening British control, including martial law in Massachusetts.

  • Loose Ties Tighten November 15, 1777

    Articles of Confederation

    Adopted a weak central government, but laid groundwork for federal expansion.

  • Rebellion's Ruin February 4, 1787

    Shays’ Rebellion Suppression

    Federal response to farmer uprising over taxes foreshadowed stronger government.

  • Framers' Faustian Bargain May 25, 1787

    Constitutional Convention

    Created a stronger federal government, debated by Anti-Federalists fearing overreach.

  • Banking on Power February 25, 1791

    National Bank Charter

    Washington signed Hamilton’s plan for a national bank to manage debt and currency.

  • Spirits of Oppression March 3, 1791

    Whiskey Tax

    Hamilton’s excise tax on distilled spirits provoked the Whiskey Rebellion.

  • Atlantic Accord's Cost November 19, 1794

    Jay Treaty

    Trade agreement with Britain, criticized for favoring British interests.

  • Seas of Supremacy July 7, 1798

    Quasi-War Naval Expansion

    Increased naval funding and power during undeclared war with France.

  • Silencing the Sovereign July 14, 1798

    Alien and Sedition Acts

    Federalist laws criminalized criticism and expanded deportation powers.

  • Gavel's Growth February 24, 1803

    Marbury v. Madison

    Established judicial review, expanding Supreme Court’s authority.

  • Land Grab Liberty April 30, 1803

    Louisiana Purchase

    Jefferson’s $15 million deal doubled U.S. territory without clear constitutional basis.

  • Trade's Tombstone December 22, 1807

    Embargo Act of 1807

    Banned foreign trade to pressure Britain and France, devastating merchants.

  • Ports Half-Shut March 1, 1809

    Non-Intercourse Act

    Replaced Embargo Act, still restricted trade with Britain and France.

  • Drums of Dominion June 18, 1812

    War of 1812 Declaration

    Congress declared war on Britain, centralizing military authority.

  • Yankee Yoke December 15, 1814

    Hartford Convention

    New England Federalists opposed war, hinting at secession over federal overreach.

  • Protection's Price April 27, 1816

    Tariff of 1816

    Protective tariff on imports to boost U.S. industry.

  • Slavery's Scales March 3, 1820

    Missouri Compromise

    Regulated slavery in new territories, balancing free and slave states.

  • Hemisphere's Herald December 2, 1823

    Monroe Doctrine

    Declared Western Hemisphere off-limits to European colonization.

  • Trail of Tyranny May 28, 1830

    Indian Removal Act

    Authorized forced relocation of Native tribes, signed by Jackson.

  • Banking Battle July 10, 1832

    Bank War (Veto)

    Jackson vetoed Second Bank renewal, shifting funds to state banks.

  • Tariff's Tempest November 24, 1832

    Nullification Crisis

    South Carolina resisted federal tariffs, prompting Jackson’s force threat.

  • Coin's Collapse July 11, 1836

    Specie Circular

    Required land purchases in gold/silver, crashing economy.

  • Panic's Power Grab May 10, 1837

    Panic of 1837 Response

    Federal interventions followed economic crash.

  • Destiny's Dominion May 13, 1846

    Mexican-American War

    War expanded U.S. territory, driven by Manifest Destiny.

  • Union's Uneasy Bargain September 9, 1850

    Compromise of 1850

    Admitted California, strengthened fugitive slave laws.

  • Chains of Compliance September 18, 1850

    Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

    Mandated citizens assist in capturing escaped slaves, part of Compromise.

  • Bleeding Borders May 30, 1854

    Kansas-Nebraska Act

    Allowed territories to vote on slavery, sparking violence.

  • Justice's Jailer March 6, 1857

    Dred Scott Decision

    Ruled slaves weren’t citizens, Congress couldn’t ban slavery in territories.

  • Duty's Dominion Redux March 2, 1861

    Morrill Tariff

    Raised duties to protect industry during Civil War prep.

  • Land's Leash May 20, 1862

    Homestead Act

    Offered federal land to settlers, with conditions.

  • Freedom's Fiat January 1, 1863

    Emancipation Proclamation

    Freed slaves in rebel states, issued by Lincoln.

  • Money's Master February 25, 1863

    National Banking Act

    Created a uniform currency, regulated banks.

  • Conscription's Call March 3, 1863

    Civil War Draft

    Mandated military service, enforced by Lincoln.

  • South's Subjugation March 2, 1867

    Reconstruction Acts

    Imposed military rule on Southern states post-Civil War.

  • Rights and Rulers July 9, 1868

    14th Amendment

    Granted citizenship, equal protection, but expanded federal oversight.

  • Butchers' Burden April 14, 1873

    Slaughter-House Cases

    Limited economic rights under 14th Amendment.

  • Tracks of Tyranny February 4, 1887

    Interstate Commerce Act

    Regulated railroads, creating the ICC.

  • Trust's Tether July 2, 1890

    Sherman Antitrust Act

    Banned monopolies, but vaguely grew federal business control.

  • Segregation's Stamp May 18, 1896

    Plessy v. Ferguson

    Upheld segregation, endorsing ‘separate but equal.’

  • Empire's Echo April 25, 1898

    Spanish-American War

    War with Spain expanded U.S. overseas territories.

  • China's Checkpoint September 6, 1899

    Open Door Policy

    Pushed equal trade access in China, formalized U.S. influence.

  • Golden Gilded Cage March 14, 1900

    Gold Standard Act

    Fixed currency to gold, limiting monetary flexibility.

  • Purity's Price June 30, 1906

    Pure Food and Drug Act

    Regulated food and drugs, creating FDA precursor.

  • Pocketbook Plunder February 3, 1913

    Income Tax (16th Amendment)

    Authorized direct income tax without apportionment.

  • Bankers' Bastion December 23, 1913

    Federal Reserve Act

    Created a central banking system to control money supply.

  • Commerce's Collar October 15, 1914

    Clayton Antitrust Act

    Strengthened antitrust laws, regulating business practices.

  • Duty's Draft May 18, 1917

    World War I Draft

    Mandated military service for war effort.

  • Words in Chains June 15, 1917

    Espionage Act

    Criminalized interference with war effort, suppressed speech.

  • Silence's Sentence May 16, 1918

    Sedition Act of 1918

    Banned disloyal speech during World War I.

  • Dry Dominion January 16, 1919

    Prohibition (18th Amendment)

    Banned alcohol production and sale nationwide.

  • Booze Ban's Boot October 28, 1919

    Volstead Act

    Enforced Prohibition with federal agents.

  • Fear's Fist November 7, 1919

    Red Scare Raids

    Mass arrests of suspected radicals under Palmer.

  • Fields Fettered May 12, 1933

    Agricultural Adjustment Act

    Paid farmers to reduce crops, managed agriculture.

  • Valley's Vassal May 18, 1933

    Tennessee Valley Authority

    FDR’s agency controlled regional power and land.

  • Industry's Iron Hand June 16, 1933

    National Industrial Recovery Act

    Regulated industry, set wages/prices under New Deal.

  • Labor's Leverage July 5, 1935

    Wagner Act

    Protected unions, mandated collective bargaining.

  • Safety Net Shackles August 14, 1935

    New Deal (Social Security Act)

    Mandated contributions for old-age insurance.

  • Work's Warden June 25, 1938

    Fair Labor Standards Act

    Set minimum wage, hours, child labor rules.

  • Arsenal's Arm March 11, 1941

    Lend-Lease Act

    Allowed FDR to aid Allies, bypassing neutrality.

  • Camps of Caution February 19, 1942

    World War II Internment

    Interned Japanese-Americans, citing security.

  • Cold War's Call March 12, 1947

    Truman Doctrine

    Pledged aid to resist communism globally.

  • Union's Umbilical June 23, 1947

    Taft-Hartley Act

    Restricted union power, mandated oversight.

  • Security's Shadow July 26, 1947

    National Security Act

    Created CIA, NSA, centralized defense.

  • Europe's Entitlement April 3, 1948

    Marshall Plan

    Funded European recovery, expanding U.S. influence.

  • Red Scare's Reign February 9, 1950

    McCarthy Hearings

    Senate probed communism, fueled by propaganda.

  • Korea's Command June 25, 1950

    Korean War Mobilization

    Truman sent troops without Congress’s declaration.

  • Roads of Rulership June 29, 1956

    Interstate Highway Act

    Funded national highways, federalizing infrastructure.

  • Equality's Edict July 2, 1964

    Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Banned discrimination, enforced by federal agencies.

  • Medicine's Mandate July 30, 1965

    Medicare/Medicaid

    Created federal healthcare for elderly, poor.

  • Ballot's Boss August 6, 1965

    Voting Rights Act

    Outlawed voting barriers, federal oversight of elections.

  • Barrel's Bind October 22, 1968

    Gun Control Act

    Restricted firearms sales post-assassinations.

  • Market's Muzzle August 15, 1971

    Nixon Wage/Price Controls

    Froze wages and prices to curb inflation.

  • War's Waiver November 7, 1973

    War Powers Resolution

    Limited presidential war-making, but codified power.

  • Nature's Net December 28, 1973

    Endangered Species Act

    Protected species, restricting land use.

  • Fuel's Fetters December 22, 1975

    Energy Policy and Conservation Act

    Regulated energy, created reserves.

  • Sky's Supervisor October 24, 1978

    Airline Deregulation Act

    Shifted control to federal oversight, mixed impact.

  • Ears of the State October 25, 1978

    Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

    Authorized secret surveillance courts.

  • Cleanup's Cost December 11, 1980

    Superfund Act

    Taxed industries to clean toxic sites.

  • Deficit's Dictate December 12, 1985

    Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act

    Mandated budget cuts, centralized fiscal control.

  • Access's Authority July 26, 1990

    Americans with Disabilities Act

    Mandated accommodations, enforced by feds.

  • Borderless Bonds December 8, 1992

    NAFTA Signing

    Trade deal with Canada, Mexico reduced tariffs.

  • Trigger's Tether November 30, 1993

    Brady Bill

    Imposed background checks, waiting periods for guns.

  • Magazine's Muzzle September 13, 1994

    Assault Weapons Ban

    Banned certain firearms, magazines.

  • Trade's Tribunal January 1, 1995

    WTO Membership

    Joined World Trade Organization, binding trade rules.

  • Waves of Watchers February 8, 1996

    Telecommunications Act

    Consolidated media, federal regulation grew.

October 7, 1763April 5, 1764March 22, 1765March 24, 1765June 29, 1767March 31, 1774May 20, 1774November 15, 1777February 4, 1787May 25, 1787February 25, 1791March 3, 1791November 19, 1794July 7, 1798July 14, 1798February 24, 1803April 30, 1803December 22, 1807March 1, 1809June 18, 1812December 15, 1814April 27, 1816March 3, 1820December 2, 1823May 28, 1830July 10, 1832November 24, 1832July 11, 1836May 10, 1837May 13, 1846September 9, 1850September 18, 1850May 30, 1854March 6, 1857March 2, 1861May 20, 1862January 1, 1863February 25, 1863March 3, 1863March 2, 1867July 9, 1868April 14, 1873February 4, 1887July 2, 1890May 18, 1896April 25, 1898September 6, 1899March 14, 1900June 30, 1906February 3, 1913December 23, 1913October 15, 1914May 18, 1917June 15, 1917May 16, 1918January 16, 1919October 28, 1919November 7, 1919May 12, 1933May 18, 1933June 16, 1933July 5, 1935August 14, 1935June 25, 1938March 11, 1941February 19, 1942March 12, 1947June 23, 1947July 26, 1947April 3, 1948February 9, 1950June 25, 1950June 29, 1956July 2, 1964July 30, 1965August 6, 1965October 22, 1968August 15, 1971November 7, 1973December 28, 1973December 22, 1975October 24, 1978October 25, 1978December 11, 1980December 12, 1985July 26, 1990December 8, 1992November 30, 1993September 13, 1994January 1, 1995February 8, 1996