New York City was the first U.S. capital under the Constitution, a fact linked to America250’s early national history.
The new federal government began operating in New York City in 1789. George Washington was inaugurated as the first president at Federal Hall on April 30 of that year. The city served as the national capital until 1790.
The Residence Act of 1790 established Philadelphia as the temporary capital for ten years while a permanent capital was built on the Potomac River. In 1800, the federal government moved to Washington, D.C., which has remained the national capital ever since.
New York City had also been the wartime capital under the Articles of Confederation for part of the 1780s, although Congress met in several different cities during the Confederation period. The constitutional capital should not be confused with Philadelphia, where the Constitution was drafted and signed.