Introduction

The Residence Act, officially titled "An Act for Establishing the Temporary and Permanent Seat of the Government of the United States," was passed on July 16, 1790, and selected a site on the Potomac River as the permanent capital (Washington, D.C.), in ten years times. Also, this act designated Philadelphia as the temporary capital for a period of ten years. The Residence Act was the result of a compromise reached between Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison concerning the permanent location of the Federal capital. In exchange for locating the new capital on the Potomac River, Madison agreed not to block legislation mandating the assumption of the states' debts by the Federal government.

Residence Act
From "Statutes at Large" (1 Stat. 130).

An act to establish the seat of government of the United States ... 1789. September the 22d. New York, printed by Thomas Greenleaf. 1789. Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division.

Andrew Ellicott. Plan of the city of Washington in the territory of Columbia: ceded by the states of Virginia and Maryland to the United States of America.... 1792. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.

Residence Act: Primary Documents in American History

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Introduction

An act to establish the seat of government of the United States ... 1789. September the 22d. New York, printed by Thomas Greenleaf. 1789. Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division.

Andrew Ellicott. Plan of the city of Washington in the territory of Columbia: ceded by the states of Virginia and Maryland to the United States of America.... 1792. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.

George Washington, March 31, 1791, Proclamation of Federal District with Map. 1791. Thomas Jefferson Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.