Washington D.C.?

Question

What was the conquest AND compromise of finding a capital for the USA?

Answer 1

Here's the story of how the national capital ended up in its current location:
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Of course, the first national capital --the meeting place at the time of the Declaration of Independence-- was Philadelphia. But it was NOT one of the locations seriously considered for a permanent capital in the 1780s and early 1790s when the matter was debated.

The Continental Congress was much divided over the issue of the location of a PERMANENT capital --the chief division being between the northern and southern states.

In 1783 they Congress thought the solution was to establish TWO capitals, a Northern one, on the Delaware River near Trenton (not far from Philadelphia but NOT in it), and a Southern one on the Potomac (exact location undetermined).

This was obviously too cumbersome, and the following year Congress decided on just the one Trenton-area capital, and to meet in New York City until building was completed. But Southern opponents never supported the funding, so New York remained de facto capital for several years.
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When the Constitution was drafted, it assigned the choice of a permanent location to Congress (Article 1, sec. 8), which first took the matter up at its first session (1789).

(It may be that New Yorkers were encouraged to think New York might end up as the final capital -- in order to help gain the needed support of this state in ratifying the Constitution -- but it was much too far north to ever be accepted by the Southern representatives.)

The First Congress (under the Constitution) actually made two DIFFERENT decisions about this question

-- in 1789 a location on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania was decided on. But the matter was not finally settled before Congress adjourned

-- in May 1790, the matter was taken up again, from scratch (not where they left up). This time the Southern plan won the day. The decision to build on the Potomac, was established by the Residence Act passed July 16.
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The story is often told of how the change took place, supposedly as a result of a compromise made at a dinner party involving Madison (proponent of the Southern view and an important leader of the Jeffersonians [later the 'Republican Party'] in the House) and Alexander Hamilton, a Northerner (of New York), Federalist and Washington's Secretary of the Treasury. Supposedly, Hamilton offered Northern support for the Potomac capital in exchange for help (or at least not BLOCKING) his financing plans in Congress (esp. the federal assumption of the war debts of all the states, along with the First National Bank).

In fact, it is not certain the decision took place quite that way..though it makes a nice story!
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A key factor that should not be overlooked was George Washington's OWN preferences. HIS personal popularity in both sections added great weight to his desire that the capital be located on the Potomac, near his home at Mount Vernon. In fact, the Residence Act left it to the President to chose the specific location.

Note also that the Residence Act provided for Philadelphia as the temporary capital for the next 10 years, while arrangements were made for building the District of Columbia (named "Washington" in 1791, though its namesake avoided using that name). It is claimed that this piece helped secure passage, in part because some Northerners (esp. from Pennsylvania) believed the Potomac plan would ultimately fail and Pennsylvania would end up hosting the capital permanently.

http://www.gwu.edu/~ffcp/exhibit/p12/index.html
http://www.gwu.edu/~ffcp/exhibit/p12/p12_1.html
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Residence.html
http://www.geocities.com/bobarnebeck/swamp1800.html

Answer 2

Philadelphia was the original capital.

The city was planned and developed in the late 18th century to serve as the permanent national capital; the federal district was formed to keep the national capital distinct from the states. The city was named after George Washington, the first President of the United States. Columbia in this context is an early poetic name for the United States, a reference to Christopher Columbus, an early European explorer of the Americas. The city is commonly referred to as Washington, The District, or simply D.C. In the 19th century, it was called the Federal City or Washington City.

Answer 3

Washington DC is technically Washington, District of Columbia, even with the indisputable fact that it is not called as the two Washington D.C. or D.C., as this is the only city interior the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia isn't portion of any state, even with the indisputable fact that it particularly is a federal district that borders Maryland to the north, east and west and borders Virginia to the south. The White residing house, and maximum different federal authorities homes (different than close by places of work), are located in Washington D.C.

Answer 4

they ahd a meeting im pretty sure thank you for the point good luck on your answers!!!!!


-gossipgirl♥ xoxo