President Thomas Jefferson issues a proclamation warning that an unlawful military expedition against Spanish Mexico is being planned, marking the beginning of federal response to the Burr Conspiracy—a treasonous plot by former Vice President Aaron Burr to either invade Spanish territories or detach …
Aaron BurrGeneral James WilkinsonPresident Thomas JeffersonChief Justice John Marshallelite-corruptiontreasonjudicial-protectionaccountability-crisisinstitutional-capture
Georgia Governor George Mathews signs the Yazoo Act, transferring 35 million acres in present-day Alabama and Mississippi to four land development companies for $500,000—approximately $0.014 per acre—in the largest land fraud perpetrated during the Federalist Era. Georgia’s Federalist U.S. …
Georgia LegislatureGovernor George MathewsSenator James GunnFour land development companiesland-speculationlegislative-corruptionbriberyelite-corruptionsystematic-corruption
President George Washington signs legislation creating the First Bank of the United States, establishing a national bank chartered for twenty years despite fierce constitutional opposition from Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton’s proposal creates an …
Alexander HamiltonThomas JeffersonJames MadisonGeorge WashingtonU.S. Congressinstitutional-capturefinancial-systemconstitutional-conflictelite-corruptionbanking-power