Judiciary Act of 1789
One of the first acts of the new Congress was to establish a Federal court system through the Judiciary Act, signed by President George Washington on September 24,...
Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
In 1820, Congress passed the Missouri Compromise, which admitted Missouri into the nation as a slave state and Maine as a free state. The Compromise established the...
Lafayette’s zeal
While at the Newburgh (NY) cantonment, General George Washington corresponded with the Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette was on leave from the army working in Europe...
Message from President James K. Polk to Congress
In early May 1846, 16 U.S. soldiers died in battle with Mexican forces. On May 11 President James K. Polk asked Congress for a declaration of war.
No winner?
The vote by the Electoral College in the 1824 Presidential election did not give any candidate a majority. Even though Andrew Jackson won more votes than John Quincy...
Nullification Ordinance
After 1832 supporters of nullification gained a two-thirds majority in the South Carolina legislature and called a state convention. The ordinance stated that it was...
Oath of office for Senator Johnson
This is the oath of office signed by Lyndon Johnson in 1955 when he was elected to the Senate. From his service in the Senate, he became Vice President and then...