In honor of the 2013 Inauguration, the first and last page of Washington’s first Inaugural Address are on display at the National Archives until January 31.

Unseasonably cold and snowy weather delayed the first Presidential inauguration, which had been scheduled for the first Wednesday in March 1789. Many members of the First Federal Congress were unable to arrive promptly in New York City, then the seat of government.

On April 6, 1789—over a month late—enough members had reached New York to tally the electoral ballots. George Washington won unanimously with 69 electoral votes. When notified of his victory, he traveled to New York City from his home in Virginia.

On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the Presidential oath on a second floor balcony of Federal Hall. Below, an enthusiastic crowd assembled in the streets. The President and members of Congress then retired to the Senate Chamber, where Washington delivered his first inaugural address.

Keenly aware of the momentousness of the occasion, Washington accepted the Presidency and spoke of his determination to make the American experiment a success. He humbly noted the power of the nation’s call for him to serve as President and the shared responsibility of the President and Congress to preserve “the sacred fire of liberty” and a republican form of government. You can read the transcript of this speech.

The National Archives will be open on Inauguration Day! Come and see this featured document, and then watch the 11:30 a.m. swearing-in ceremony in our theater.

Five Friday Constitution Facts

George Washington was chosen unanimously to preside over the Constitutional Convention.

James Madison was known as the “Father of the Constitution.”

Benjamin Franklin was known as the “Sage of the Constitutional Convention.”

Thomas Jefferson was in France during the Constitutional Convention.

Madison kept a journal during the Constitutional Convention. It was later purchased for $30,000 in 1837.

It’s time for a July 4 pop quiz! Who was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence? Who was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence? How many of the signers were born in Great Britain? Which two future Presidents signed the Declaration of Independence? How many men signed the Declaration of Independence? How many of the signers were clergymen?   [Answers: Franklin; Edward Rutledege, age 26; eight; John Adams and Thomas Jefferson;56; 2] If you answer all 6 questions correctly, you are an honorary Founding Father; answer 4 correctly, you are still a patriot; answer 2 or less correctly, then you must return your tricorn hat and go back to school! We hope you will join us on July 4 for a reading of the Declaration on the steps of the National Archives. Details here: http://go.usa.gov/vsE The event will also be carried by C-SPAN, so tune in! Image: mural of the signers, painted by Barry Faulkner, that hangs above the Declaration of Independence in the National Archives in Washington, DC.
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It’s time for a July 4 pop quiz!
  • Who was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence?
  • Who was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence?
  • How many of the signers were born in Great Britain?
  • Which two future Presidents signed the Declaration of Independence?
  • How many men signed the Declaration of Independence?
  • How many of the signers were clergymen?
 
[Answers: Franklin; Edward Rutledege, age 26; eight; John Adams and Thomas Jefferson;56; 2]
If you answer all 6 questions correctly, you are an honorary Founding Father; answer 4 correctly, you are still a patriot; answer 2 or less correctly, then you must return your tricorn hat and go back to school!
We hope you will join us on July 4 for a reading of the Declaration on the steps of the National Archives. Details here: http://go.usa.gov/vsE The event will also be carried by C-SPAN, so tune in!
Image: mural of the signers, painted by Barry Faulkner, that hangs above the Declaration of Independence in the National Archives in Washington, DC.

This is our third post of our series leading up to the 225th anniversary of the Constitution. Once the Constitutional Convention finally gathered a quorum of state delegations, it got right down to business. During the Convention’s first weekend recess, the Rules Committee drafted a set of guidelines for how the Convention would conduct its business.  The rules the Convention ultimately adopted created an environment well suited to earnest debate. Delegates agreed they would be able to reconsider (and re-vote on) any resolution they had already adopted. They also agreed to keep the proceedings of the Convention secret.  By shielding their discussions from public scrutiny, delegates gave themselves the opportunity to consider and even argue for unpopular views. By allowing themselves to change their votes, they gave themselves a chance to persuade their colleagues and to be persuaded by them. The delegates adopted rules that allowed them to change their minds.  They gave themselves the freedom to admit they were wrong. Throughout the long summer months, that freedom would prove crucial to the development of the Constitution. (Image: Exterior of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA.)
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This is our third post of our series leading up to the 225th anniversary of the Constitution.

Once the Constitutional Convention finally gathered a quorum of state delegations, it got right down to business. During the Convention’s first weekend recess, the Rules Committee drafted a set of guidelines for how the Convention would conduct its business.

 The rules the Convention ultimately adopted created an environment well suited to earnest debate. Delegates agreed they would be able to reconsider (and re-vote on) any resolution they had already adopted. They also agreed to keep the proceedings of the Convention secret.

 By shielding their discussions from public scrutiny, delegates gave themselves the opportunity to consider and even argue for unpopular views. By allowing themselves to change their votes, they gave themselves a chance to persuade their colleagues and to be persuaded by them. The delegates adopted rules that allowed them to change their minds.

 They gave themselves the freedom to admit they were wrong.

Throughout the long summer months, that freedom would prove crucial to the development of the Constitution.

(Image: Exterior of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA.)

The Constitutional Convention did not get off to an auspicious start. For the first twelve days, they convened only to adjourn until the following day because not enough states were represented. But by May 25, 1787, delegations from seven states had arrived in Philadelphia, and the Convention at last had the necessary quorum to conduct business. By the Convention’s close, there would be a total of 55 delegates, but only 30 of them were present on the first day of business. Those 30 delegates made three fateful decisions on the first day of the Convention. In a move that signaled the importance of the work before them, they first unanimously selected George Washington to preside over the Convention’s proceedings. The delegates’ collective knowledge of the theory and practice of government also led them to appoint a committee to draft standing rules of order for the Convention. Finally, they designated Major William Jackson to be the Convention’s secretary. Jackson would prove to be rather lax in his recordkeeping duties. Much of what we know about the creation of the Constitution comes from journals kept by other participants, most notably James Madison. On the first page of Madison’s journal [above] of the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention, he recorded the delegates who made up that initial quorum and the states they represented. Massachusetts: Rufus King New York: Robert Yates, Alexander Hamilton New Jersey: David Brearly, William Churchill Houston, William Paterson Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Thomas Fitzsimons, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris Delaware: George Read, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom Virginia: George Washington, Edmund Randolph, John Blair, James Madison, George Mason, George Wythe, James McClurg North Carolina: Alexander Martin, William Richardson Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson South Carolina: John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler Georgia: William Few
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The Constitutional Convention did not get off to an auspicious start. For the first twelve days, they convened only to adjourn until the following day because not enough states were represented.

But by May 25, 1787, delegations from seven states had arrived in Philadelphia, and the Convention at last had the necessary quorum to conduct business. By the Convention’s close, there would be a total of 55 delegates, but only 30 of them were present on the first day of business.

Those 30 delegates made three fateful decisions on the first day of the Convention. In a move that signaled the importance of the work before them, they first unanimously selected George Washington to preside over the Convention’s proceedings. The delegates’ collective knowledge of the theory and practice of government also led them to appoint a committee to draft standing rules of order for the Convention. Finally, they designated Major William Jackson to be the Convention’s secretary.

Jackson would prove to be rather lax in his recordkeeping duties. Much of what we know about the creation of the Constitution comes from journals kept by other participants, most notably James Madison.

On the first page of Madison’s journal [above] of the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention, he recorded the delegates who made up that initial quorum and the states they represented.

Massachusetts: Rufus King

New York: Robert Yates, Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey: David Brearly, William Churchill Houston, William Paterson

Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Thomas Fitzsimons, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris

Delaware: George Read, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom

Virginia: George Washington, Edmund Randolph, John Blair, James Madison, George Mason, George Wythe, James McClurg

North Carolina: Alexander Martin, William Richardson Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson

South Carolina: John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler

Georgia: William Few

Today at 7 pm, learn how the Constitution and the Magna Carta are related!Join us at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC! Enter at the special events entrance on Constitution Avenue.

To celebrate the return of Magna Carta to the National Archives, we present a discussion on its connection to the American Constitution including its place in the charters of the American colonies, its impact on the era of the Founding Fathers, and its legacy in the context of world constitutionalism.

A. E. Dick Howard, professor of law, University of Virginia, will set the stage and moderate a panel including David M. Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group; Peter Onuf, BackStory Radio’s “18th Century Guy” and professor of history, University of Virginia; Renée Lettow Lerner, associate professor of law, the George Washington University; and Zachary Elkins, associate professor of government, University of Texas at Austin.