Postal Service Act of 1792

E478715

The Postal Service Act of 1792 was a foundational U.S. law that established the national postal system, promoted the circulation of newspapers and information, and guaranteed low-cost, secure mail delivery as a key element of American democracy.

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All labels observed (2)

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal statute
postal law
appliesTo postal service operations in the United States (1792 era)
appliesToTerritorialJurisdiction early United States
considered foundational law of the U.S. postal system
key element in institutionalizing a national communication network
country United States of America
surface form: United States
effectiveDate 1792-02-20
enactedBy United States Congress
established United States Post Office Department NERFINISHED
guaranteed confidentiality of mail
low newspaper postage rates
hasConsequence creation of a nationwide postal network
subsidization of newspaper distribution
historicalPeriod Early Republic of the United States NERFINISHED
influenced growth of American democracy
information dissemination in the United States
jurisdiction United States government
surface form: United States federal government
languageOfWork English
legalForm statute
legislativeBody United States Congress
mainSubject United States Post Office NERFINISHED
democracy
freedom of the press
information circulation
newspapers
post roads
postal service
penalized tampering with the mail
prohibited unauthorized opening of mail
providedFor appointment of postmasters
creation of post roads
government monopoly on letter mail
purpose to designate post roads
to ensure low-cost mail delivery
to establish a national postal system
to promote the circulation of newspapers
to protect the privacy of mail
to support American democracy
regulated carriage of newspapers
mail routes
postal rates
relatedTo development of American newspapers
expansion of communication networks in the United States
freedom of the press in the United States
shortName Postal Service Act of 1792 NERFINISHED
signedBy George Washington NERFINISHED
signingDate 1792-02-20
title An Act to establish the Post-Office and Post Roads within the United States NERFINISHED
yearOfEnactment 1792

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Second United States Congress passed Postal Service Act of 1792
4th United States Congress enactedLaw Postal Service Act of 1792
this entity surface form: Act establishing the Post Office and Post Roads (1796 revision)