Eleanor Finch
March 4th was a significant date in the early history of the United States, particularly in the nation's legislative body. From 1789 until the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment in 1933, March 4th was the date when each new Congress convened, marking the conclusion of each Congress's two-year session. It was also the official inauguration day for the President, with President Lincoln delivering two inaugural addresses on this date. The date was chosen by the Confederation Congress as the official handover date to the new constitutional government, and it played a pivotal role in early US governance, symbolizing the beginning of a new era under the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Inauguration | From 1793 to 1933, the President of the United States was inaugurated on March 4, as stipulated by the US Constitution. |
| Constitutional Basis | Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the US Constitution set March 4 as the date for the start of the presidential term. |
| Amendment | The 20th Amendment, ratified on January 23, 1933, moved the date to January 20, shortening the period between election and inauguration. |
| Historical Context | The date was chosen to give time for vote counting and travel in the 18th century, when transportation and communication were slower. |
| Current Practice | The 20th Amendment also provided for a private swearing-in on the 20th if the date falls on a Sunday, with a public ceremony the next day. |
| Frequency | The March 4 inauguration occurred every 4 years, marking the start of a new presidential term. |
| Significance | It was a significant date in the US political calendar, marking the peaceful transfer of power and the start of a new administration. |
| Modern Relevance | While no longer the date of inauguration, March 4 remains a reminder of the country's constitutional history and the importance of a peaceful transition of power. |
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What You'll Learn
- The US government began operating under the Constitution on March 4, 1789
- March 4 was the official day for presidential inaugurations until 1933
- The Senate first convened on March 4, 1789
- March 4 was the end date of each Congress's two-year term
- March 4 was also the inauguration day for new sessions of Congress
The US government began operating under the Constitution on March 4, 1789
March 4th, 1789, was a significant date in US history as it marked the first time the US government operated under the Constitution. On this day, the Confederation Congress, which had governed under the Articles of Confederation, ceded power to the new constitutional government. This event symbolised the beginning of a new era and became a traditional mark of transition for the nation's legislative body.
The date of March 4, 1789, was chosen by the Confederation Congress as the official handover date to the new government. This Congress had been responsible for debating and forwarding the proposed constitution to the states for consideration and ratification. The process was contentious, with conflicts between the states, and it took nine months for the necessary nine states to ratify the document.
The first Congress under the new Constitution convened in New York City at Federal Hall. However, of its 81 members, only 22 showed up for the first session, illustrating the logistical challenges of transitioning between government frameworks. The low turnout also underscored the difficulty of coordinating legislative efforts across the vast geographic landscape of the newly formed republic.
March 4th held a pivotal role in early US governance and continued to be an important date on the congressional calendar. It served as the inauguration day for new sessions of Congress and marked the conclusion of each Congress's two-year term. This dual role often led to extended "lame-duck" sessions, where outgoing members of Congress continued to serve until the new Congress commenced.
The debate over the precise end of a congressional session led to a resolution in 1851, clarifying that a Congress session ended at 11:59 am on March 4th, with a new session starting at noon. This resolution was sparked by an incident involving Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis, who declared his term expired at midnight on March 3, 1851, and refused to vote on further roll calls. The drama over March 4th ended with the ratification of the 20th Amendment in 1933, which set January 3rd as the starting day of a new Congress and January 20th as Inauguration Day for the President.
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March 4 was the official day for presidential inaugurations until 1933
March 4th held a significant role in early United States governance. From 1789 until the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment in 1933, it was the official day for presidential inaugurations and the beginning of a new congressional session.
The date of March 4, 1789, is significant as it marks the day the United States government began operating under the Constitution. On this day, the Confederation Congress, which operated under the Articles of Confederation, ceded power to the new constitutional government. The first Congress convened in New York City at Federal Hall, and it is considered the Constitution's first official day in business.
March 4th was chosen by the Confederation Congress as the official handover date to the new government. This date was selected in September 1788, once the necessary nine states had ratified the Constitution. The date held a dual role, serving as both the inauguration day for new sessions of Congress and the conclusion of each Congress's two-year term.
The selection of March 4th as the concluding day for Congress's session often led to extended "lame-duck" sessions. In these periods, outgoing members of Congress continued to serve until the new Congress convened, even if they had been rejected by their constituents in the November elections. These lame-duck sessions played a critical role in shaping American political history, but they also posed challenges and the potential for controversial decisions.
The debate over the precise end of a congressional session, whether it was midnight on March 3rd or noon on March 4th, was a long-standing issue. Finally, in 1851, a resolution was adopted, stating that a Congress session ended at 11:59 am on March 4th, with the new session starting at noon.
The significance of March 4th as a date in the constitutional calendar ended with the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment in 1933. This amendment addressed logistical issues and reduced the potential for extended lame-duck periods by setting new dates for congressional and presidential terms.
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The Senate first convened on March 4, 1789
On March 4, 1789, the United States government began operating under the U.S. Constitution, marking the end of the Confederation Congress that had governed under the Articles of Confederation. The Senate first convened at New York City's Federal Hall. However, only 22 of the expected 81 members arrived, illustrating the logistical challenges of transitioning between government frameworks. The Confederation Congress chose this date as the official handover to the new constitutional government.
March 4th held a pivotal role in early United States governance, serving as a demarcation point in the congressional calendar. Starting in 1789, it functioned as the inauguration day for new sessions of Congress and marked the conclusion of each Congress's two-year term. This dual role often led to extended "lame-duck" sessions, where outgoing members of Congress continued to serve until the new Congress convened. As the end of a session approached, Congress often raced to pass last-minute legislation.
The date was chosen by the Confederation Congress in September 1788, once the necessary nine states had ratified the Constitution. The exact cutoff for Congress sessions was debated, and in 1851, a resolution was passed, stating that a Congress session ended at 11:59 am on March 4th, with a new session starting at noon.
March 4th was also significant as the date of President Lincoln's two inaugural addresses and President Franklin Roosevelt's address in 1933. It was also the date of President Andrew Jackson's infamous 1829 inauguration, where his supporters stormed the White House.
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March 4 was the end date of each Congress's two-year term
The date of March 4 was significant in the US congressional calendar. The Senate first convened on March 4, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City. From 1789 until 1933, when the Constitution's Twentieth Amendment changed the convening time, March 4 was among the most important dates on the congressional calendar.
The "lame-duck" session was a period between the November election and March 4, where outgoing members of Congress could wield considerable power over legislative decisions, despite potentially having been rejected by their constituents. This period played a critical role in shaping American political history. For example, after Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, President James Buchanan's administration had to deal with emerging secessionist tensions until Lincoln's inauguration on March 4, 1861.
The exact cutoff for Congress sessions was debated, and a significant incident involving Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis in 1851 led to a resolution that a Congress session ended at 11:59 am on March 4, with a new session starting at noon. This resolution aimed to address the confusion over whether Congress expired at midnight on March 3 or noon on March 4.
The drama surrounding the annual debate on March 4 ended with the ratification of the 20th Amendment in 1933, which set January 3 as the beginning of a new Congress and January 20 as inauguration day for the president.
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March 4 was also the inauguration day for new sessions of Congress
The date of March 4 held a pivotal role in early United States governance. Starting in 1789, the day served as the inauguration for new sessions of Congress and marked the conclusion of each Congress's two-year term. This dual role often led to extended "lame-duck" sessions, where outgoing members of Congress continued to serve until the new Congress commenced.
The Confederation Congress, which operated under the Articles of Confederation (the first Constitution), picked March 4, 1789, as the day it handed off power to the new constitutional government. On this day, the federal government started to operate under the terms of the U.S. Constitution. The Senate convened for the first time at New York City's Federal Hall, though only 22 of the expected 81 members arrived, illustrating the logistical challenges of transitioning between government frameworks.
The exact cutoff for Congress sessions was debated for decades, with a significant incident involving Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis leading to a resolution in 1851 that clarified a Congress session officially ended at 11:59 am on March 4, with a new session starting at noon. This resolution addressed the difference between a natural day, beginning at midnight, and a "political" day, starting at noon.
The tradition of inaugurating new sessions of Congress on March 4 ended with the ratification of the 20th Amendment in 1933, which set January 3 as the starting day of a new Congress and January 20 as inauguration day for the president.
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Frequently asked questions
March 4th was the first day the US government operated under the US Constitution. It was also the date of the first meeting of the Senate in 1789. Until the ratification of the 20th Amendment in 1933, March 4th was the official day for presidential inaugurations and the beginning of a new Congress.
On March 4, 1789, the US government began operating under the US Constitution, marking the end of the Confederation Congress. The Confederation Congress chose this date to hand over power to the new constitutional government. The Senate also convened for the first time on this day at Federal Hall in New York City.
Several significant events took place on March 4th throughout history. Here are a few examples:
- President Lincoln's two inaugural addresses.
- President Franklin Roosevelt's address in 1933.
- President Andrew Jackson's inauguration in 1829, where he invited the public to the White House.
- President Harding's inauguration in 1921, where he travelled to the Capitol in an automobile.
