What was the first National Capital of the United States?

In 1789, New York City became the first National Capital of the United States under the new United States Constitution. The Constitution also created the current Congress of the United States, and its first sitting was at Federal Hall on Wall Street.

Philadelphia , Pa., was the very first capital, but not the National Capital. The First Continental Congress had to meet in Carpenters' Hall from September 5 to October 26, 1774, because Independence Hall was being used by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Prior to establishing the nation's capital in Washington, D.C., the United States Congress and its predecessors had met in Philadelphia (Independence Hall and Congress Hall), New York City (Federal Hall), and a number of other locations (York, Pennsylvania; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Maryland State House in Annapolis.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org

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37 Comments

Carleton Cole

Fact: The header on the Declaration of Independence states,"In Congress, July 4, 1776 The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America" That congress met in Philadelphia. Any argument that New York was the first, is semantics.

majohnson

The beginning of the U.S. in 1776, NYC was the capital.

red jim pa

I never seen NYC referred to as the 1st capital, NEVER.

Janet Stewart

I learned that in school.

mlphilpot

Pretty tricky

jegray

Carleton Cole, Philadelphia, Pa., was the very first capital. The First Continental Congress had to meet in Carpenters' Hall (pictured) from September 5 to October 26, 1774, because Independence Hall was being used by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.Sep 24, 2009

biljines

Question is poorly asked. It is misleading. To properly ask this question, the Constitution must be mentioned before the question mark, not after it. After the Declaration of Independence, a war was fought and the newly declared states fought as a single nation, not as a disorganized collection of colonies. After the war was won, a nation was recognized, albeit a confederation of states, but a nation just the same. A weak government was run, and there were 8 presidents before George Washington under the Articles of Confederation. Very little is taught about the first years of our new nation before the Constitution. Ask the descendents of John Hanson. I thought there was something definitely that reeked of fish when I saw this question.

Cindy Roe

Yes, i agree this answer is wrong. Philadelphia is the correct answer.

Dave Levett

That was a final Jeopardy question, the answer was Philadelphia, not New York!

Vincent Gatti

This is a good question. The key to the appropriate location is the word United

Rockin' D (See Tagged Profile for Images photos)

Have to DISAGREE with the NYC answer!! IT WAS PHILADELPHIA!.......

mikemerr

Wrong answer: Philadelphia was the first capitol see: http://www.history.com/news/8-forgotten-capitals-of-the-united-states

anthonygriffin

That was easy!

John W Shreve

The various sites do not agree. Washington did serve as president in New York City but was only waiting for the move to Philly. I've flown across the Pacific four times, each time with a stop at an airport in Honolulu. Is Hawaii, therefore, a state I've visited? I don't think so.