Close

COVID-19 (coronavirus) Update

The Capitol Visitor Center remains closed. We are not taking tour reservations at this time. Please check out our video tours and other online resources.

 

Online Gift Shop Now Open

Check out our new Online Gift Shop, https://shop.visitthecapitol.gov. All products are Made-in-the-USA, and many are created exclusively for our store. We look forward to welcoming you to the CVC Online Gift Shop.

Breaking Barriers between Nations

Breaking Barriers between Nations

The Congress shall have Power To…regulate Commerce with foreign Nations

Article I, Section 8, Constitution of the United States

Congress plays an essential role in international relations. The Senate has the power to ratify treaties, and members of Congress were instrumental in establishing trade agreements and in providing aid to our allies and developing nations through the Marshall Plan and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

President George Washington's nomination of John Jay as Envoy Extraordinary to his Britannic Majesty, April 16, 1794 President George Washington's nomination of John Jay as Envoy Extraordinary to his Britannic Majesty, April 16, 1794 The U.S. Constitution empowers the Senate to give “Advice and Consent” to presidential appointments of ambassadors and other public officials. In…
The Jay Treaty, Exchange Copy, November 19, 1794 The Jay Treaty On November 19, 1794, American emissary John Jay signed the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, between His Britannic Majesty and the United…
Impressment of American Seamen, wood engraving after Howard Pyle, April 1884 Impressment of American Seamen Following the Revolutionary War, Great Britain continued to interfere with American shipping, including seizing American sailors and forcing them…
Treaty of Wangxia (Treaty of Peace, Amity, and Commerce between the United States and China), July 3, 1844 Treaty of Wangxia (Treaty of Peace, Amity, and Commerce between the United States and China), July 3, 1844 On July 3, 1844, Commissioner Caleb Cushing and his Chinese counterpart, Qiying, signed the Treaty of Wangxia, adding their official seals. In…
Temple where the Treaty was signed July the 3rd, 1844, in the Village of Wang Heia (Wangxia) in the Vacinity [sic] of Macao (Aomen), watercolor by George R. West, July 3, 1844 Temple where the Treaty was signed July the 3rd, 1844, in the Village of Wang Heia (Wangxia) in the Vacinity [sic] of Macao (Aomen), watercolor by George R. West, July 3, 1844 George R. West accompanied Commissioner Caleb Cushing to China as the official artist of the diplomatic mission. West’s watercolor drawings…
Japan’s first emissaries to the United States exchanged treaty ratification papers and visited Congress in 1860. Japan’s first emissaries Japan’s first emissaries to the United States exchanged treaty ratification papers and visited Congress in 1860. Alexander Gardner and Mathew B.…
Economic Cooperation Act of 1948 (Marshall Plan), April 3, 1948 Economic Cooperation Act of 1948 (Marshall Plan) - Image 1 The European Recovery Program pushed forward the economic reconstruction of post-war Europe and discouraged the spread of communism. Secretary of…
S. 938, A Bill to provide assistance to Greece and Turkey (Greek-Turkish Aid Act), March 18, 1947 S. 938 - Image 1 President Harry S. Truman appeared before Congress in 1947 to request $400 million to assist Greece and Turkey to support “free peoples . . .…
Letter from President Harry S. Truman to the Senate of the United States, April 12, 1949 Letter from President Harry S. Truman to the Senate - Image 1 President Harry S. Truman sent this letter to the Senate requesting that it consent to ratification of the North Atlantic Treaty, concluding it would…
Atlantic Pact, drawing by Clifford Berryman, July 14, 1949 Atlantic Pact, drawing by Clifford Berryman Cartoonist Clifford Berryman captured the close bipartisan relationship between the Senate’s two top foreign policy leaders—Senator Tom Connally,…
Through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United States and its European allies pledged mutual defense and peacekeeping. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United States and its European allies pledged mutual defense and peacekeeping. AP/Wide…
Letter from President Kennedy to Lyndon B. Johnson regarding the Peace Corps Bill, May 29, 1961 Letter from President Kennedy to Lyndon B. Johnson regarding the Peace Corps Bill, May 29, 1961 President John F. Kennedy sent this letter to Senate President (Vice President) Lyndon B. Johnson describing the Peace Corps’ pilot program successes…