29th United States Congress

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The 29th Congress of the United States , consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate , was the legislature of the United States of America . Its legislative period lasted from March 4, 1845 to March 4, 1847. All members of the House of Representatives and a third of the senators ( Class I ) were elected in the 1844 congressional elections. This resulted in a majority in both chambers for the Democratic Party , which with James K. Polk also provided the president. The Whig Party had to be content with the role of the opposition. The congress met in the American capital Washington, DC At that time the United States consisted of 27 states. The 27th state, Florida , had been admitted to the Union on March 3, 1845, the day before the beginning of the legislature of the 29th Congress. The states of Texas and Iowa were added during the legislative period . The number of US states had risen to 29 at the end of the 29th Congress. The distribution of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1840 census .

Important events

See also 1845 , 1846, and 1847

  • March 4, 1845: Beginning of the legislative period of the 29th Congress. At the same time, President Polk will take up his new office as US President. He takes over from John Tyler .
  • The Indian wars continue during the legislative period .
  • October 10, 1845: The United States Naval Academy opens in Annapolis , Maryland .
  • December 2, 1845: President Polk proclaims the Manifest Destiny Doctrine.
  • December 29, 1845: Texas becomes the 28th state in the USA.
  • April 25, 1846: Beginning of the Mexican-American War , which sparked off at the annexation of Texas and which lasted until February 1848 and ended with an American victory.
  • June 14, 1846: In California , then still in Mexico , the so-called Bear Flag Revolt occurs . American settlers start a rebellion against Mexico and establish the California Republic. A little later, American troops began to conquer California, which became a US state in 1850.
  • June 15, 1846: The Oregon Compromise determines the 49th parallel as the border between the USA and the western part of British Canada. This ends years of border disputes.
  • August 10, 1846: Smithsonian Institution is founded in Washington DC.
  • November 1846: In the US congressional elections, Democrats win a majority in the Senate, while the Whig Party has a majority in the House of Representatives.
  • December 28: Iowa becomes the 29th state in the United States.
  • 1846: The southern portion of the District of Columbia is returned to Virginia . The rest is still a federal district today.
  • January 4, 1847: Samuel Colt sells revolvers to the American government for the first time.

The main laws

During the session of the 29th Congress, the following federal laws were passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):

  • May 13, 1846: Declaration of war on Mexico. Fighting had been going on since April 1846. See above.
  • July 9, 1846: Land Restitution Act in the District of Columbia to the State of Virginia.
  • July 30, 1846: Walker Tariff Act

Composition according to parties

senate

  • Democratic Party: 31
  • Whig Party: 24
  • Others: 1
  • Vacant: 2

Total: 58 at the end of the legislative period

House of Representatives

  • Democratic Party: 143
  • Whig Party: 78
  • Others: 6
  • Vacant: 2

Total: 229 at the end of the legislative period

There were also two congressional delegates who were not entitled to vote

Public officials

senate

House of Representatives

Senate members

The following senators represented their respective states in the 29th Congress:

Alabama

Arkansas

Connecticut

Delaware 

 Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

  • 2. Vacant accession to the state December 28, 1846
  • 3. Vacant accession to the state December 28, 1846

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Jersey

new York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

Members of the House of Representatives

The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 29th Congress:

Alabama 7 constituencies

Arkansas state-wide election

Connecticut 4 constituencies

Delaware state-wide choice

Florida State-wide

Georgia 8 constituencies

Illinois 7 constituencies

Indiana 10 constituencies

Iowa State Election

Kentucky 10 constituencies

Louisiana 4 constituencies

Maine 7 constituencies

Maryland 6 constituencies.

Massachusetts 10 constituencies

Michigan 3 constituencies

Mississippi State Election

Missouri State Election

New Hampshire All MPs were state-elected.

New Jersey 5 constituencies

New York 34 constituencies.

North Carolina 9 constituencies

Ohio 21 constituencies

Pennsylvania 24 constituencies

Rhode Island 2 electoral districts

South Carolina 7 constituencies

Tennessee 11 constituencies

Texas 2 electoral districts

Vermont 4 constituencies

Virginia 15 constituencies

Members of the House of Representatives who are not entitled to vote:

Web links

Commons : 29th United States Congress  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files
  • bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 29 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 29th Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)