Congress Timeline By kathleen_sams Period: Jan 1, 1790 to Jan 1, 2011 Congress Timeline Nov 4, 1811 Henry Clay became first speaker. Jun 1, 1812 Congress Declared War For The First Time Oct 13, 1819 The Capital Was Rebuilt Oct 13, 1820 Congress Passed the Missouri Compromise Mar 7, 1850 Clay, Webster, and Calhoun, passed a compromise. Jan 1, 1861 Jefferson Davis rose to speak in Congress Apr 12, 1861 Disagreement and the Civil War caused another Congress to be built in Montgomery Alabama Oct 13, 1863 The Dome Was Finished Oct 13, 1865 Congress passed amendment abolishing slavery Oct 13, 1868 Congress voted to impeach President Johnson Oct 13, 1917 Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany Oct 13, 1941 Congress declared war on Japan, Jennette Brankin was the only one to say no.