The Organic Act of 1871

The year is 1871, February 21 and Congress Passes an Act to Provide a Government for the District of Columbia, also known as "the Organic Act of 1871".
With no constitutional authority to do so, Congress creates a separate form of government for the District of Columbia, which is a ten square mile parcel of land
(see, Acts of the 41st Congress, Section 34, Session III, chapters 61 and 62).
The act passed, following the Civil War, when the country was depleted and in financial ruin.