Residence Act

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The Residence Act was a 1790 law passed by the U.S. Congress that authorized the establishment of a permanent national capital along the Potomac River, leading to the creation of Washington, D.C.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal law
constitutional implementation law
statute
appliesTo seat of government of the United States
authorized establishment of a permanent national capital
president to acquire land for the federal district
president to appoint commissioners to survey and define the federal district
capitalCityEstablished Washington, D.C.
category History of Washington, D.C.
United States federal legislation
country United States of America
dateEnacted 1790-07-16
effect established future capital in a new federal district
moved U.S. capital from New York City to Philadelphia temporarily
governs selection and establishment of the federal district
historicalEra Early national period of the United States
implementedBy District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801
jurisdiction federal
language English
legalStatus enacted
legislativeBody United States Congress
locatedBetween Potomac River at the Conococheague
Potomac River at the Eastern Branch
maximumSize 100 square miles
negotiatedBy Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
Thomas Jefferson
partOf Compromise of 1790
politicalContext sectional compromise between northern and southern states
presidentInOffice George Washington
primaryBeneficiaryRegion Southern states
primaryOppositionRegion Northern states
providedFor federal district not exceeding ten miles square
selection of a site for the seat of the U.S. federal government
region Potomac River basin
relatedTo District of Columbia
Funding Act of 1790
Washington, D.C.
resultedIn creation of Washington, D.C.
creation of the District of Columbia
shortDescription 1790 U.S. law establishing a permanent national capital on the Potomac River
signedBy George Washington
specifiedLocation Potomac River
startOfEffect 1790
subjectMatter location of the United States capital
temporarySeatEndDate 1800-12-01
temporarySeatOfGovernment Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
timeLimitForSelection before the first Monday in December 1800

Referenced by (9)

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