31st United States Congress

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The 31st United States Congress , made up of the House and Senate , was the United States legislature . Its legislative period lasted from March 4, 1849 to March 4, 1851. All members of the House of Representatives and a third of the senators ( Class III ) were elected in the 1848 congressional elections. This resulted in a majority for the Democratic Party in both chambers . The Whig Party was only left with the role of the opposition party. The congress met in the American capital Washington, DC President was Zachary Taylor or Millard Fillmore of the Whig Party. The United States then consisted of 30 states. In 1850, California became the 31st state. The distribution of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1840 census .

Important events

See also 1849 , 1850, and 1851

  • March 4, 1849: Beginning of the legislative period of the 31st Congress. A day later, the new President Zachary Taylor, also elected in November 1848, was introduced into office. He replaces James K. Polk . Taylor had refused to take office on the usual day, March 4, 1849, because that day fell on a Sunday.
  • The Indian wars continue throughout the legislative period . In addition, tensions between the northern and southern states of the United States are gradually increasing. There is also a gold rush in California.
  • May 3, 1849: After a levee breached, the Mississippi River flooded large parts of the city of New Orleans .
  • January 29, 1850: Senator Henry Clay introduces the 1850 Compromise in Congress.
  • March 19, 1850: American Express is founded by Henry Wells and William Fargo .
  • April 4, 1850: Los Angeles becomes a city. San Francisco follows on April 15th .
  • April 19, 1850: Conclusion of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty . The USA and Great Britain agree that neither of the two should have sole influence on a future canal that will connect the Atlantic to the Pacific. Neutrality should be guaranteed by both nations.
  • July 9, 1850: President Taylor dies and Vice President Fillmore is promoted to the highest office in the United States. This makes the office of the official Senate President vacant.
  • July 9, 1850: California becomes the 31st US state.
  • July 1850: New Mexico Territory and Utah Territory founded .
  • November 1850: In the congressional elections, the Democrats win a majority in both chambers.

The main laws

During the session of the 31st Congress, the following federal laws were passed ( see also: Legislative procedure ):

  • September 9, 1850: Compromise of 1850 adopted, see Compromise of 1850
  • September 18, 1850: Fugitive Slave Act
  • September 29, 1850: Donation Land Claim Act

Composition according to parties

senate

Total: 62 at the end of the legislative period

House of Representatives

  • Democratic Party: 113
  • Whig Party: 107
  • Free Soil Party: 9
  • Others: 2
  • Vacant: 2

Total: 233 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 31st Congress:

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

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

Wisconsin

Members of the House of Representatives

The following congressmen represented the interests of their respective states in the 31st Congress:

Alabama 7 constituencies

Arkansas state-wide election

California state-wide election

Connecticut 4 constituencies

Delaware state-wide choice

Florida State-wide

Georgia 8 constituencies

Illinois 7 constituencies

Indiana 10 constituencies

Iowa 2 constituencies

Kentucky 10 constituencies

Louisiana 4 constituencies

Maine 7 constituencies

Maryland 6 constituencies.

Massachusetts 10 constituencies

Michigan 3 constituencies

Mississippi 4 electoral divisions

Missouri 5 constituencies

New Hampshire 4 electoral divisions

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

Wisconsin 3 constituencies

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

Web links

Commons : 31st United States Congress  - Collection of Pictures, Videos, and Audio Files
  • bioguide.congress.gov (by entering 31 under Year OR Congress: you get a list of the members of the 31st Congress with a link to the official biographies; English)