Events that have impacted Congress

1787 The Constitutional Convention

1789 The First Congress

1807 Development of Political Parties

1811 Henry Clay

1820-1860 Slavery Divides the House

1839 First Public Vote for Speaker

1858 Speaker First Serves on Rules Committee

1876 Samuel Randall and the Recognition Power

1889 "Czar" Reed and the "Reed Rules"

1903-1910 The Rise and Fall of "Uncle Joe" Cannon

1923 The Last Battle for Speaker

1940 Sam Rayburn, Longest-Serving Speaker

1977-1994 The Accommodating Speaker

1995-1998 The Speaker Goes Too Far