The First Congress: An Inauspicious, Unattended Start

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Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Video and Audio – Approximately 240 years ago the Congress and Senate were supposed to have their first meeting to elect the first President of the United States of America… but not enough Senators showed up to form a quorum. There were enough Congressmen there, but it took them several weeks and numerous letters to get some of the Senators (ahem,Virginia, ahem) there.  And of course, when enough finally got to Federal Hall in New York, they elected George Washington first President of the United States of America… but still not everyone was there and some of the states still had not ratified the Constitution. Can you imagine something like that happening today? Senators and congressmen not attending the Inauguration or the first day of a new session? They would be absolutely scorned in public. But many members of the first Congress were apathetic and ambivalent to their office, since it didn’t have much authority anyways… For more be sure and check out today’s Founders TV and sign up for a Founders Pass if you don’t already have one.