What was the first political argument that shut down the U.S. government?

The Alien and Sedition acts passed by Congress and signed by John Adams came close.

Thanks @Rarebear!

Newt Gingrich and the new right energized by Lee Atwater did it in 1995 and again in 1996 trying to defund public health initiatives, environmental protection and education, and defund or privatize Medicare over Bill Clinton’s vetos.

Thanks @ETpro! I’ll look into that one too.

Maybe the Whiskey Revolt when Washington was president?

Not the first, but probably the most serious early shutdown was the Andrew Jackson Bank war that started about 1832.

@Adirondackwannabe and @WestRiverrat thanks for the info.

If you mean a country’s bankruptcy, this happened in Iceland on October 9, 2008.

If I’m not mistaken it was one of the first Supreme Court decisions ever rendered, Tastes Great vs Less Filling.

i could be wrong. it happens . . .

@mattbrowne I’m looking United States of America shutdowns, but thanks that info will make an interesting contrast or model. @Blondesjon, thanks for that, but I pretty sure the jury is still deliberating.