On August 2, 1790, the first US Census is conducted under the direction of Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. The census classifies and counts the number of people in every household including white males 16 years and older to ‘assess the country’s industrial and military potential.’ Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are skeptical about the final count of 3.9 million because they think the actual number of US inhabitants is much higher. (Photo: President George Washington (bottom) and Vice President John Adams (center left) signed the 1790 census act on March 1, 1790.)
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