US Capitals

The United States was founded on July 2, 1776 in Philadelphia by the Second Continental Congress with the Lee Resolution.  The Congress continued to meet here until concern over British invasion caused them to move to Maryland.

Delegates met here at Henry Fire House until it was determined that it was safe enough to return to Philadelphia.

Congress met here again until the defeat at the Battle of Brandywine made it evident that British forces were going to take Philadelphia.

While fleeing west to avoid attacks by British forces, Congress convened one day in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Congress met here in York, Pennsylvania until it was determined that it was safe enough to return to Philadelphia. It was here that the Articles of Confederation were drafted.

Philadelphia is again the Capital until the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783.  The Articles of Confederation were ratified during this time.

United States veterans of the Revolutionary War were still having trouble getting paid.  Soldiers marched from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and joined with other soldiers in Philadelphia.  Together, about 400 of them marched on the Capitol Building, blocked the doors, and demanded payment.  Congress escaped to Princeton, New Jersey and convened in Nassau Hall of the College of New Jersey.

This is where the Treaty of Paris was signed.

Trenton was favored to be the permanent Capital of the United States but there was controversy that it was located too far north.

It was during this time that the Constitution was ratified.

The Residence Act moved the Capital from New York to Philadelphia for ten years while Washington, DC was being built.