Eleanor Finch
The Residence Act of 1790, officially titled An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States, was passed on July 16, 1790, and established a site on the Potomac River as the permanent US capital, Washington, D.C. The Act was signed into law by President George Washington, who was authorised to appoint commissioners to oversee the project. The Residence Act was passed as part of the Compromise of 1790, brokered among James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. The constitutionality of the bill was questioned, with some arguing that it was contrary to the clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 7) which declares that every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary [...] shall be presented to the President of the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of approval | 1 July 1790 (Senate), 9 July 1790 (House of Representatives) |
| Date signed into law | 16 July 1790 |
| Location of capital | Along the Potomac River between the Eastern Branch (the Anacostia River) and the Connogochegue |
| Maximum area | 100 square miles (259 sq km) |
| Temporary capital | Philadelphia |
| Permanent capital | Washington, D.C. |
| Date of relocation | December 1800 |
| Authorised by | Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the US Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
The Act establishes a national capital and permanent seat of government
The Residence Act of 1790, officially titled "An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States", was signed into law by President George Washington on July 16, 1790. The Act establishes a national capital and a permanent seat of government, specifying a site along the Potomac River as the chosen location. This decision was reached as part of the Compromise of 1790, brokered among James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton.
The Act empowers President Washington to appoint commissioners to oversee the project, including the surveying and defining of the district's boundaries. It sets a deadline of December 1800 for the capital to be ready, with Philadelphia designated as the temporary capital during the construction period. The federal government operated out of New York City at the time.
The Residence Act resolves a long-standing debate about the location of a permanent seat of government, which had continued since the Continental Congresses. Two sites emerged as serious contenders: one on the Potomac River near Georgetown, and another on the Susquehanna River near Wrights Ferry (now Columbia, Pennsylvania). The House approved the Susquehanna River site, while the Senate bill specified a location on the Delaware River near Germantown, Pennsylvania. However, the two chambers could not reconcile their differences.
The final decision to establish the capital along the Potomac River was influenced by the Compromise of 1790. As part of this agreement, southern Representatives, led by James Madison, dropped their opposition to Hamilton's proposal for the federal government to assume the states' Revolutionary War debt. In exchange, the capital would be located in a southern locale. Thomas Jefferson, with the support of Madison, played a key role in securing the support of the Virginia delegates for the debt provisions.
The Residence Act of 1790 thus establishes the foundation for the creation of Washington, D.C., as the permanent seat of the United States government. The Act outlines the steps and deadlines for this transition, ensuring that the capital would be ready by December 1800.
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The site is on the Potomac River
The Residence Act of 1790, officially titled "An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States", selected a site on the Potomac River as the permanent US capital. The Act was passed on July 16, 1790, and established a site on the Potomac River as the future location of Washington, D.C.
The site on the Potomac River was chosen after a period of debate. Initially, two sites were considered: one on the Potomac River near Georgetown and another on the Susquehanna River near Wrights Ferry (now Columbia, Pennsylvania). The House approved the Susquehanna River site, while the Senate preferred a location on the Delaware River. However, the final decision was made in the summer of 1790, with the Potomac River site emerging as the preferred option.
The Residence Act of 1790 authorised the President of the United States, George Washington, to appoint three commissioners to survey and define the boundaries of the district. The chosen site was to encompass an area of no more than "ten miles square" or 100 square miles. The commissioners were also responsible for purchasing land or accepting gifts of land on the eastern side of the Potomac River, as well as providing suitable buildings for the federal government.
The Potomac River site was specifically located between the Eastern Branch (now known as the Anacostia River) and the Connogochegue, near Williamsport and Hagerstown, Maryland. The laws of the states from which the area was ceded (Maryland and Virginia) would apply in the federal district until the government officially took residence in 1800. At that point, Congress would gain full authority over local matters within the District of Columbia.
The Residence Act played a significant role in establishing the permanent seat of the US government on the banks of the Potomac River, setting the stage for the development of Washington, D.C., as the nation's capital.
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The capital would be called Washington, D.C
The Residence Act of 1790 established a permanent capital for the United States federal government. The Act specified that the capital would be located along the Potomac River and would be called Washington, D.C. The city was formed from land donated by the states of Maryland and Virginia and was named after President George Washington, who signed the Act into law on July 16, 1790.
The choice of the site was the result of a compromise between members of Congress, who had been debating the location of the capital since the establishment of the United States Constitution in 1789. The Act also designated Philadelphia as the temporary capital for a period of ten years while the new capital was being built.
The federal district's initial shape was a square measuring 10 miles (16 km) on each side, encompassing an area of 100 square miles (259 sq km). It included two pre-existing settlements: the port of Georgetown (founded in 1751) and the port city of Alexandria, Virginia (founded in 1749). The city was officially founded in 1790, and President Washington appointed Pierre Charles L'Enfant to design it. L'Enfant envisioned a bold, modern city with grand boulevards and ceremonial spaces, modelled after his native Paris.
The capital city of Washington, D.C. was officially established in 1800, and Congress assumed control of the federal district, gaining full authority over local matters. The city has since undergone various expansions and developments, including the creation of new suburbs and the expansion of streetcar lines in the mid-19th century. It has also faced periods of civil unrest and riots in the 1960s and 1970s, leading to a decline in inner-city residents.
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Philadelphia was the temporary capital
The Residence Act of 1790, officially titled "An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States", designated Philadelphia as the nation's temporary capital. The Act was signed into law by President George Washington on July 16, 1790, and provided for a national capital and permanent seat of government to be established at a site along the Potomac River. It also set a deadline of December 1800 for the new capital to be ready.
At the time the Act was passed, the federal government operated out of New York City, which had been the temporary capital since the United States Congress was established in 1789. The Residence Act was passed as part of the Compromise of 1790, brokered among James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. One of the key provisions of the compromise was that the federal government would assume the debts accumulated by the states during the American Revolutionary War.
To garner enough votes to pass the Assumption Bill, Hamilton needed the support of the Pennsylvania delegates. This led to the decision to designate Philadelphia as the temporary capital for ten years, until the permanent capital was ready. Congress reconvened in Philadelphia on December 6, 1790, at Congress Hall. The Residence Act specified that the capital would be located along the Potomac River between the Eastern Branch (the Anacostia River) and the Connogochegue, encompassing an area of no more than "ten miles square".
The move to the new capital was not set to go into effect until ten years after the Act was passed, so Philadelphia remained the capital of the United States until 1800 when the capital was transferred to Washington, D.C.
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The Act was signed into law by President George Washington
The Residence Act of 1790, officially titled "An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States", was signed into law by President George Washington on July 16, 1790. The Act was passed during the second session of the 1st United States Congress, which had been established in 1789 after the ratification of the United States Constitution.
The Residence Act provided for the establishment of a national capital and permanent seat of government at a site along the Potomac River, which would become Washington, D.C. The Act also empowered President Washington to appoint commissioners to oversee the project and set a deadline of December 1800 for the capital to be ready. Philadelphia was designated as the nation's temporary capital while the new seat of government was being built.
The choice of a site for the capital was the subject of debate, with two serious contenders emerging: a site on the Potomac River near Georgetown and another on the Susquehanna River near Wrights Ferry (now Columbia, Pennsylvania). The House initially approved the Susquehanna River site in September 1789, while the Senate specified a site on the Delaware River. However, the two chambers were unable to reconcile their differences.
The Residence Act was part of the Compromise of 1790, which was brokered among James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson secured the support of the Virginia delegates for the bill, while Hamilton convinced the New York delegates to agree to the Potomac site for the capital. The bill faced constitutional questions, with some arguing that it was contrary to the clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 7) regarding the presentation of certain resolutions or votes to the President. Despite this, President Washington signed the Act into law on July 16, 1790, one week after it was approved by the House of Representatives.
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Frequently asked questions
The Residence Act of 1790, officially titled "An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States", selected a site on the Potomac River as the permanent US capital, Washington, D.C.
The Act provided for a national capital and permanent seat of government to be established, and empowered President George Washington to appoint commissioners to oversee the project. It also designated Philadelphia as the nation's temporary capital while the new seat of government was being built.
The bill was approved by the Senate by a vote of 14-12 on July 1, 1790, and by the House of Representatives by a vote of 31-29 on July 9, 1790. President George Washington signed the Act into law on July 16, 1790.
