Washington DC: Part I

Today here at the Luckie Street Tribune we'll be introducing a new feature to our selection of articles: "Lost and Found." In this section, we'll work to uncover a series of interesting topics that our readers may not know enough about. Today, the focus of our initial subject is the Federal City, better known by its nickname Washington D.C. The District of Columbia portion of the title is legitimate, but the Washington portion was added four months after the nation's first president, George Washington, selected the site. This is part 1 of a 3 part series.

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Washington DC: 1787 – 1864; A Look into the Founding of the Nation’s First Permanent Capitol and Its Near Collapse, Part I



The District of Columbia, with the prefix “Washington” added at a later date, has housed the federal government since its inception. Created with the task of performing the daily tasks of government, elected representatives selected the grounds across the Potomac River with the intent to preserve and improve the ideals of the nation. But building a capitol city of this magnitude was not an easy task; there were many different factors that went into building such an establishment. From this, a city was created that has had its share of both prosperity and tragedy; like the nation, it has been a city that has changed with the times. Following a massive effort, the city has become the symbol of democracy.

Following the colony’s victory over the British, a formal federal government was established. Aimed at developing a democracy that would expand the ideals that they had fought to acquire, Congress proposed the permanent location of a national capitol. Many states had applied for the honor, including many of the largest cities. The federal government, having fled the city of Philadelphia following the mutiny of October 21, 1873 , realized that a permanent solution needed to be implemented quicker than originally anticipated. But, as the first Congress learned from its temporary home in Philadelphia, building upon a pre-existing city was not the most suitable environment to hold the federal government. For one, the buildings had to be close together, so in the event that an emergency occurred, members of all three branches – as well as the military – could convene in a timely manner. Also, as most cities relied upon easy aquatic transportation, national security was concerned. A city had to be constructed in a location that was both secure and easily accessible.

Indeed, Congress did intend to move away from their historical roots, as mentioned in the Constitution of the United States (Article I, Section VIII). The original proposed location for the capitol was along the Delaware River, but – for either economic or political reasons, was never put into motion. At other times, locations in Virginia and Pennsylvania were seriously considered for the capitol. Finally, on May 10, 1787, a location along the Potomac River was selected to house the nation’s capitol. George Washington, as the nation’s first president, would have final selection over the city’s location. He would eventually decide on an area known as Connogocheague, on the Potomac River. This area, located in between Georgetown and Alexandria, bordered the two states of Maryland and Virginia. Thomas Scott, a representative for the state of Pennsylvania, presented the location to Congress and the location was finalized, 31 “ayes” to 19 “nays.” The nation’s capitol had been selected.

Scott, on his proposal, declared the area by the Potomac to be, “the future tranquility and well-being of the United States,” stating that the fate of the country “depended as much on this as on any question that ever had or could come before Congress.” Not everyone felt this way. One New York representative claimed that it should be held in New York City, as it was superior in both behavior and in class.

The purpose for the site seems fairly simple, as Washington – who was raised in that area – was given the task of selecting the location of the capitol. He wanted to build the capitol in his former backyard. And while the battle for deciding the capitol’s location had been settled, a new set of questions would begin to emerge. Should the capitol become a city of commerce? Some members of Congress felt as though Washington decided upon that specific region in an effort to increase trade commerce. The river of the Potomac featured easy access to the Ohio, as well as the Great Lakes (through the Cuyahoga). Thomas Jefferson made the argument for commercialization in Notes on Virginia, claiming, “Spread the field of our commerce Westwardly and Southwardly beyond any thing ever yet done by man.”