Washington's careful cultivation of public esteem and deference in Philadelphia enhanced his image as a national symbol and fostered the growth of American nationalism. President Washington's weekly reception for politicians and foreign diplomats and Martha Washington's Friday evening soirées commanded the highest priority in the city's social scene. The profusion of balls, dinners, dances, public lectures, musical performances, and theater spurred by the federal presence created a rich cultural environment. Prices rose accordingly with the increased demand for goods and services, and many congressmen bemoaned the higher cost of living. The initial adjustment period proved somewhat chaotic as legislators searched for housing in a city rapidly filling with tailors, barbers, shoemakers, and other entrepreneurs who hoped to capitalize on the presence of the federal government. When Pennsylvania built the mansion anyway, Washington refused to live in it. He also worried that living in grandeur would send the wrong message to Americans and the world about the nature of the new American republic. Washington, however, feared the city would use the residence in a bid to keep the capital in Philadelphia permanently. As part of its improvement program, Pennsylvania offered to build Washington a presidential mansion. The Supreme Court met in the mayor's courtroom in Philadelphia's city hall, and President George Washington moved into the former home of a local politician. These quarters quickly proved too small, and in 1793 the building had to be enlarged. While Congress chose to establish the nation's capital along the Potomac River in the District of Columbia, it also rewarded Philadelphia it chose the Pennsylvania city to house the federal government until 1800 while its offices in Washington were under construction.Īrriving in time for the December 1790 session, Congress moved into Philadelphia's county courthouse, Congress Hall. Upon the formation of a new national government under the Constitution, the city campaigned vigorously for the federal government to return.
During much of the preceding confederation period (1776-1787), however, Congress had resided in Philadelphia. The United States government spent its first year (1789-1790) under the Constitution in the city of New York. The capital remained in Philadelphia until 1800 when it permanently settled in Washington, D.C. On December 6, 1790, the United States Capital officially moved from New York City to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The United States Capital officially moves from New York to Philadelphia, where it remains until the completion of the District of Columbia in 1800.
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