New York City was the first capital of the United States government established under the Constitution, a milestone linked to America250 history.
The new federal government began operating under the Constitution in 1789, with Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan serving as the first seat of government. The First Congress met there, and George Washington took the presidential oath on the building’s balcony on April 30, 1789.
New York’s role as capital lasted until 1790. The Residence Act then provided for a permanent capital on the Potomac River, while Philadelphia served as the temporary capital from 1790 to 1800. The federal government moved to Washington, D.C., in 1800.
Philadelphia remains closely associated with America’s founding because the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were both debated there. However, it was not the first capital under the Constitution. New York City held that distinction, and Federal Hall became an important symbol of the transition from the Revolutionary era to the new constitutional government.