The First Capital: Constitutional Beginnings Of A Nation

The United States has had several capitals throughout its history, including New York, Philadelphia, and Princeton, New Jersey. The current capital, Washington, D.C., has been the federal capital since 1800. The location of the capital was addressed by the Framers of the U.S. Constitution, who realized that the capital needed to be a Federal City, not controlled by a state government. The Residence Act of 1790 established the national capital at a site along the Potomac River that would become Washington, D.C.

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The first US President, George Washington, took office in New York City in 1789

The United States has had several capital cities over the course of its history. The first US President, George Washington, took office in New York City in 1789. At the time, the newly formed US government was operating under the new Constitution, which had been ratified in 1787. The Constitution gave Congress the power to establish a federal district as the seat of the government.

New York City was the first national capital under the Constitution, with the first Congress meeting at Federal Hall. On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States on the second-floor balcony of Federal Hall. Federal Hall was demolished in 1812, but a statue of Washington overlooking Wall Street now stands outside a reconstruction of the building.

The early years of the United States government were marked by instability, with Congress meeting in various locations across the country. From 1781 to 1783, Congress met in Philadelphia, but was forced to relocate due to a soldier riot by Continental soldiers demanding compensation for their military service. The Congress of the Confederation then moved to Nassau Hall on the campus of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). In 1785, the Congress of Confederation convened in New York's old City Hall on Wall Street, and for the next five years, New York served as the seat of American power.

In 1787, the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia to discuss a new system of government and draft the Constitution. After the Constitution was ratified, delegates met at Fraunces Tavern while the old City Hall was remodelled to become the first capitol building for the new national government. In 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, which established the national capital along the Potomac River, to be named Washington, D.C. Philadelphia served as the temporary capital from 1790 to 1800 while the new capital was being constructed. On May 14, 1800, Congress ended its business in Philadelphia and moved to the new Federal District. Washington, D.C. has been the federal capital of the United States since 1800.

The US Constitution was ratified in 1787, giving Congress the power to establish a national capital

The Continental Congress had no permanent national capital, meeting in various locations such as Philadelphia, Princeton, and Baltimore. The Second Continental Congress, which declared independence, met in Philadelphia's Carpenter's Hall in 1774 and later reassembled in the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall), where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776. However, with the onset of the American Revolution, the Continental Congress abandoned Philadelphia and fled to Baltimore.

In 1781, the Congress of the Confederation, previously known as the Second Continental Congress, ratified the Articles of Confederation, naming the new country "The United States of America." This Congress also did not have a set capital, initially remaining in Philadelphia until 1783 when they moved to Nassau Hall on the campus of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) due to a soldier riot demanding compensation for their military service.

After the ratification of the US Constitution in 1787, the power to establish a national capital fell to Congress. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution authorized Congress to create a federal district that would become the Seat of the Government of the United States, with the power to exercise authority over all places purchased for the erection of necessary government buildings. The first Congress met at Federal Hall in New York, and George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States there in 1789.

In 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, which established the national capital along the Potomac River, in what would become Washington, D.C. Philadelphia served as the temporary capital for the next ten years while the new capital was under construction. Finally, in 1800, the nation's capital officially moved to Washington, D.C., where it has remained ever since.

The Residence Act of 1790 established the capital along the Potomac River

The first national capital of the United States under the Constitution was New York City, where the new government began operating under the new Constitution on March 4, 1789. On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States at Federal Hall in New York City.

However, the Constitution gave Congress the power to exercise "exclusive legislation" over a district that may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States." This meant that the location of a permanent capital city would be addressed by the Framers of the U.S. Constitution. The capital would be a Federal City, not controlled by a state government, so that no state would have an advantage over the others.

The Residence Act of 1790, signed by George Washington on July 16, 1790, established the capital along the Potomac River on land gifted by Maryland and Virginia. The new capital would be named Washington, D.C. and its construction was to be completed by 1800. In the interim, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, would serve as the temporary capital.

The decision to locate the capital along the Potomac River was influenced by several factors. One key factor was the desire to appease pro-slavery states, who feared that a northern capital would be too sympathetic to abolitionists. Additionally, native Virginians like Washington, Madison, and Jefferson actively planned for a capital near their home. The Residence Act was also part of a deal between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, which included a compromise over slavery.

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Philadelphia was the temporary capital from 1790-1800 while Washington, D.C. was built

The United States Constitution was ratified in 1787, and it gave Congress the power to exercise exclusive legislation over a district that could become the "Seat of the Government of the United States". The first Congress met at Federal Hall in New York, and George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789.

However, the location of the capital city was yet to be decided. The Constitution needed the capital to be a Federal City, not controlled by a state government. No state should have an advantage over the others, and the federal government needed to be in charge of its own seat.

In 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, which established Philadelphia as the temporary capital while the permanent capital was being built. Philadelphia had been the hub of the new nation, and it was equally accessible from the North and the South. Important decisions were made in the city, and it had also been the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

However, there were several issues with Philadelphia remaining the capital. Firstly, there was the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783, where Continental soldiers demanded compensation for their military service. This pitted the federal government against the state of Pennsylvania. Secondly, a yellow fever epidemic hit the city in 1793, raising doubts about the safety of the area. Finally, there was a deal between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and a compromise over slavery that influenced the move.

The Residence Act of 1790 put the permanent capital on the banks of the Potomac River, in an area that would become Washington, D.C. The new capital was to be built on land gifted by Maryland and Virginia. On May 14, 1800, the nation's capital officially moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. has been the US capital since 1800

The United States has had many capitals throughout its history, including Philadelphia, New York, and Nassau Hall on the campus of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). However, Washington, D.C. has been the US capital since 1800.

The US Constitution, which was ratified in 1787, gave Congress the power to decide on a federal district that would become the seat of the US government. In 1790, the First Congress passed the Residence Act, which established the national capital at a site along the Potomac River that would become Washington, D.C. Philadelphia served as the temporary capital for the next ten years while Washington, D.C. was being built.

The decision to move the capital from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. was influenced by several factors. One reason was the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783, which caused tensions between the federal government and the state of Pennsylvania. In addition, a yellow fever epidemic hit Philadelphia in 1793, raising doubts about the safety of the area. There was also a desire to appease pro-slavery states, who feared that a northern capital would be too sympathetic to abolitionists.

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson were key players in the decision to move the capital to Washington, D.C. Hamilton agreed to the move in exchange for a commitment to reorganize the federal government's finances and have the southern states indirectly pay off the war debts of the northern states. Thomas Jefferson, a native Virginian, also supported the move, as he wanted the capital to be located near his home state.

Since becoming the US capital in 1800, Washington, D.C. has undergone significant development and transformation. The White House, for example, underwent extensive renovations and expansions during the administration of President Harry S. Truman between 1948 and 1952. Today, Washington, D.C. is a thriving city with numerous office buildings, museums, libraries, and other amenities. It continues to be the seat of the US government, hosting political decision-making, diplomacy, and social gatherings.

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