Congress By grant_siebring Period: Oct 13, 1788 to Oct 13, 1970 Time Span Oct 13, 1789 First Congressional Meeting First Congressional meeting happened, only 21 members showed up. Oct 13, 1800 Congress sets up its home Congress sets up its home at the New York City Hall Oct 13, 1811 Henry Clay elected first speaker of the house Oct 13, 1812 Congress declares war for the first time Oct 13, 1814 Britain burns down the Capitol Building Oct 13, 1819 Capitol building rebuilt Oct 13, 1820 Missouri Comprimise Maine declared a free state, Missouri declared a slave state Oct 13, 1850 California declared a free state Apr 12, 1861 Civil War Declared Oct 13, 1863 Gold dome on Capital Finished Oct 13, 1865 Slavery abolished Oct 13, 1910 Foul Mouth Joe (Joseph Girney) elected Speaker of the House Oct 13, 1917 President Wilson asks to declare war on Germany Oct 13, 1941 President announces Pearl harbor in fron of the Capitol Oct 13, 1941 Congress declares war on Germany... Again Oct 13, 1973 Watergate hearings