Congress Timeline By leah_higgins 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 Capital Rebuilt Oct 13, 1820 First Great Crisis Oct 13, 1820 Congress passed the Missouri Compromise Mar 2, 1850 Clay, Webster, and Calhoun passed a compromise Jan 1, 1861 Sentaor Jefferson Davis rose to speak Oct 13, 1865 Congress passed amendment abolishing slavery Oct 13, 1868 Congress voted to impeach president Oct 13, 1917 Woodrow Wilson asks for a declaration of war against Germany Dec 13, 1917 First women took seat - Genette Brankin Oct 13, 1957 Labor Management Hearings Oct 13, 1958 Congress and counry very conservative