Congress officially banns dueling in Washington, D.C., on February 20, 1839, aiming to stop the deadly practice among politicians. The law made accepting, or carrying a challenge to a duel in the District, a felony punishable by up to 10 years of hard labor.
The impetus for the legislation came from the fatal 1838 duel between Representatives Jonathan Cilley of Maine and William Graves of Kentucky. This act aimed to stop the deadly practice among politicians. The new law reduced the number of duels in the District but many continue to take place beyond the district borders.
