Timeline of Events Leading to the Revolutionary War | Eastern North Carolina Now

    April 1, 1789 - A quorum is reached in Congress with 30 of 59 members present and the House of Representatives begins to function. Of the 59 members, 54 had also been delegates to the constitutional convention.

    April 6, 1789 - In the Senate, with nine of 22 senators present, the presidential ballots cast on Feb. 4 are counted. George Washington is the unanimous choice for President with 69 votes. John Adams is elected Vice President with 34 votes. Messengers are then sent to inform Washington and Adams.

    April 14, 1789 - Charles Thomson, secretary of Congress, arrives at Mount Vernon and informs George Washington of his election as President. Two days later, Washington leaves for New York City.

    April 21, 1789 - John Adams arrives in New York and is sworn in as Vice President, then takes his seat as presiding officer of the Senate.

    April 23, 1789 - After an eight-day triumphal journey, Washington arrives in New York City.

    April 30, 1789 - On the balcony of New York's Federal Hall, George Washington, at age 57, is sworn in as the first President of the United States. He then enters the Senate chamber to deliver his inaugural address.

    May 7, 1789 - The first inaugural ball occurs in honor of President Washington.

    June 1, 1789 - In its first act, Congress establishes the procedure for administering oaths of office.

    July 4, 1789 - Congress passes its first tax, an 8.5 percent protective tax on 30 different items, with items arriving on American ships charged at a lower rate than foreign ships.

    July 14, 1789 - In France, the French Revolution begins with the fall of the Bastille in Paris, an event witnessed by the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson.

    July 20, 1789 - Congress passes the Tonnage Act of 1789 levying a 50 cents-per-ton tax on foreign ships entering American ports, 30 cents-per-ton on American built but foreign owned ships, and 6 cents-per-ton on American ships.

    July 27, 1789 - Congress begins organization of the departments of government with the establishment of the Department of Foreign Affairs, later renamed the Department of State, followed by the War Department (Aug. 7) Treasury Dept. (Sept. 2) and Postmaster General under the Treasury Dept. (Sept. 2).

    September 22, 1789 - The Federal Judiciary Act passed by Congress establishes a six-man Supreme Court, attorney general, 13 federal district courts and three circuit courts. All federal cases would originate in the district court and, if appealed, would go to the circuit court and from there to the Supreme Court.

    September 25, 1789 - Congress submits 12 proposed constitutional amendments to the states for ratification. The first ten will be ratified and added to the Constitution in 1791 as the Bill of Rights.

    September 29, 1789 - The U.S. Army is established by Congress. Totaling 1,000 men, it consists of one regiment of eight infantry companies and one battalion of four artillery companies.

    November 26, 1789 - A Day of Thanksgiving is established by a congressional resolution and a proclamation by George Washington.

    March 1, 1790 - A Census Act is passed by Congress. The first census, finished on Aug. 1, indicates a total population of nearly 4 million persons in the U.S. and western territories. African Americans make up 19 percent of the population, with 90 percent living in the South. Native Americans were not counted, although there were likely over 80 tribes with 150,000 persons. For white Americans, the average age is under 16. Most white families are large, with an average of eight children born. The white population will double every 22 years. The largest American city is Philadelphia, with 42,000 persons, followed by New York (33,000), Boston (18,000), Charleston (16,000) and Baltimore (13,000). The majority of Americans are involved in agricultural pursuits, with little industrial activity occurring at this time.

    April 17, 1790 - Benjamin Franklin dies in Philadelphia at age 84. His funeral four days later draws over 20,000 mourners.

    July 10, 1790 - The House of Representatives votes to locate the national capital on a 10-square-mile site along the Potomac, with President George Washington choosing the exact location.

Reference:

    The History Place: The American Revolution. http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/revwar-75.htm

    Diane Rufino has her own blog For Love of God and Country. Come and visit her. She'd love your company.