4th United States Congress

The Fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania from March 4 1795 to March 3 1797, during the last two years of George Washington's Presidency.

The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the First Census of the United States in 1790. The Senate had a Federalist majority, and the House had a Democratic-Republican majority.

Dates of sessions

March 4, 1795 - March 3, 1797
*Special session of the Senate: June 8, 1795 - June 26, 1795
*First session: December 7, 1795 - June 1, 1796
*Second session: December 5, 1796 - March 3, 1797 — a lame duck sessionPrevious: 3rd Congress • Next: 5th Congress

Major events

*September 17 1796 - U.S. President George Washington issued his Farewell Address, which warned against partisan politics and foreign entanglements.

Major legislation

Treaties

igned

* May 31, 1796 — Treaty of New York (also known as Treaty with the Seven Nations of Canada) was signed, between leaders of the First Nations comprising the Seven Nations of Canada and a delegation headed by Abraham Ogden for the United States.
* June 29, 1796 — Treaty of Colerain signed, which affirmed the binding of the Treaty of New York (1790) and established the boundary line between the Creek Nation and the United States. USStat|7|56
* August 3, 1795 — The Treaty of Greenville was signed, ending the Northwest Indian War.
* October 27, 1795 — The Treaty of Madrid ("Pinckney's Treaty") between the United States and Spain was ratified. It established the boundaries between Spanish colonies and the United States.
* November 4, 1796 — The Treaty of Tripoli was signed, between the United States and Tripoli.

Ratified

* March 7, 1796 — The Treaty of Madrid ("Pinckney's Treaty") was ratified.

States admitted

*June 1 1796 - Tennessee was admitted as a state to the Union. It was formerly the Southwest Territory

Party summary

This was the first Congress to have organized political parties. Details on changes are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

Senate

House of Representatives

There were 9 resignations, 1 death of a Representative-elect, and 1 new seat. Both Federalists and Democratic-Republicans each had a 1 seat net gain.

Officers

* Architect of the Capitol: William Thornton

enate

*Secretary: Samuel A. Otis of Massachusetts, elected April 8 1789
*Doorkeeper: James Mathers of New York, elected April 7 1789
*Chaplain: William White, "Episcopalian", elected December 9 1790

House of Representatives

*Clerk: John Beckley of Virginia, elected December 7 1795
*Sergeant at Arms: Joseph Wheaton of Rhode Island, elected December 7 1795
*Doorkeeper: Thomas Claxton, elected December 7 1795
*Chaplain: Ashbel Green, "Presbyterian", elected December 7 1795

References

*cite book|title = The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress|last = Martis|first = Kenneth C.|authorlink =|coauthors =|year = 1989|publisher = Macmillan Publishing Company|location = New York|id =
*cite book|title = The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts|last = Martis|first = Kenneth C.|authorlink =|coauthors =|year = 1982|publisher = Macmillan Publishing Company|location = New York|id =

External links

* [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsllink.html Statutes at Large, 1789-1875]
* [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsjlink.html Senate Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress]
* [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwhjlink.html#anchor2 House Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress]
* [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/hd108-222/index.html Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress]
* [http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/house_history/index.html U.S. House of Representatives: House History]
* [http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/two_column_table/stats_and_lists.htm U.S. Senate: Statistics and Lists]