Congress By jacob_smith Mar 4, 1789 First Congress Period: Mar 4, 1789 to Dec 25, 2011 Congress Jun 1, 1800 Congress moved to the banks of the Platomic Jun 1, 1812 Declared war for the first time Jan 1, 1819 Capital rebuilt Jan 1, 1820 First great compromise Jan 1, 1850 Clay compromise Jan 1, 1860 Lincoln becomes president Jan 1, 1861 Civil war Jan 1, 1865 Slavery abolished Jan 1, 1917 Asked for declaration of war against Germany Jan 1, 1941 Attacked by Japan Jan 1, 1953 McCarthy Hearings Jan 1, 1960 Civil Rights debates Jan 1, 1973 Watergate Hearings