Federal Hall: George Washington

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Federal Hall We all know that the humble George Washington was the first President of the new free nation of the United States of America. But do we know where he took the oath of office when he became President? For those who do not already know, the first President of the United States actually took the oath of office right here in New York City at Federal Hall! A presidential inauguration is important for the whole country. Federal Hall has been a site of government importance since the start of this nation. There are historical exhibits inside Federal Hall that was present on the day Washington was actually here! Every President of the United States has to promise to conscientiously carry out the duties of President and to conserve and …show more content…

“Washington served as a general and commander-in-chief of the colonial armies during the American Revolution, and later became the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797” (Bio.com). He served two terms as the first United States President. Presidents after him also served for a maximum of two terms with the exception of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Being the first President means that George Washington had the privilege and the responsibility of setting certain examples for subsequent Presidents to follow. Federal Hall is located on Wall Street in New York City. “George Washington took the oath of office as our first President [on April 30, 1789], and this site was home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices” (National Parks Service). A parade led by military troops and followed by dignitaries and officials in carriages escorted Washington to Federal Hall for the inauguration. This first inaugural parade followed what has become the traditional route—from the President’s house to the Capital. Washington D.C. did not become the Capital of the United States until …show more content…

After taking the oath of office, Washington entered the Federal Hall building and went to the Senate chambers to make his inaugural address to the assembled members of Congress. His first act as President was to make the inaugural address to Congress. Following the address, Washington and the members of Congress attended a service at St. Paul’s Chapel nearby. During the seventeen months of his New York presidency, St. Paul’s served as George Washington’s family church, and the pew where he and his wife Martha worshipped is on view

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