Founding1800
Congress First Meets in Washington, D.C.
The United States Congress convened for the first time in the new federal capital of Washington, D.C., meeting in the partially completed Capitol building. The move from Philadelphia fulfilled the Residence Act of 1790, which established a permanent seat of government.
Why It Matters
Establishing the capital in Washington, D.C. fulfilled the constitutional vision of a federal district independent of any state, creating a permanent center for American democratic governance.