Events in 1791

January 1, 1791

First US Constitutional Crisis

In 1791, America faced its first constitutional crisis during George Washington's presidency over the establishment of the First Bank of the United States, sparking a fundamental debate between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson about constitutional interpretation.

April 23, 1791

Birth of James Buchanan

James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, was born in a log cabin called Stony Batter in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania. He was born into a Scottish-Irish immigrant family as the second eldest of 11 children.

December 15, 1791

Bill of Rights Ratification

The Bill of Rights was officially ratified on December 15, 1791, when Virginia became the tenth state to approve the amendments, establishing fundamental individual liberties and limitations on federal power in the United States Constitution.