Jonah Patel
The location of the US national capital was a contentious issue addressed by the Framers of the US Constitution. The decision was complicated by the desire for a central location that was equally accessible to all, and the need for a Federal City, not one controlled by a state government. Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution gives Congress the power to create a federal district to become the Seat of the Government of the United States. This led to the passing of the Residence Act in 1790, which established the nation's capital in its current location in Washington, D.C.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Decision-makers | President George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson |
| Location | Along the Potomac River, somewhere between Pennsylvania and New York |
| Type of city | Federal City, not controlled by a state government |
| Temporary capital | Philadelphia, for 10 years |
| Permanent capital | Washington, D.C. |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution's role in establishing a national capital
The US Constitution played a significant role in establishing a national capital. The Constitution, which came into effect on March 4, 1789, outlines the framework for the federal government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also embodies the concept of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments in relation to the federal government.
One of the key roles of the Constitution was to address the location of the capital city. The decision-making process for choosing the capital was contentious, with northern states preferring a location in Pennsylvania or New York, while southern states supported a location along the Potomac River. Alexander Hamilton played a crucial role in brokering a compromise, known as the Residence Act, in which the federal government agreed to assume war debts from the American Revolutionary War, in exchange for support from the northern states for locating the capital along the Potomac River.
The Residence Act, passed in July 1790, paved the way for establishing a permanent capital. Philadelphia was chosen as the temporary capital for ten years until the new capital in Washington, D.C., was ready. The establishment of Washington, D.C., as the nation's capital was significant as it was the first "created" capital, not tied to a specific state and controlled by the federal government. This ensured that no single state had an advantage over the others.
The construction of the nation's capital was a massive undertaking. Pierre L'Enfant was tasked with creating the city plan for Washington, D.C., and the Congress House, later known as the Capitol, was built on Capitol Hill. The building of the capital city included grading and paving streets, installing sewers and water mains, extending streetcar lines, planting trees, and constructing office buildings, museums, and libraries. These efforts transformed Washington, D.C., into a capital worthy of the nation.
The US Constitution also played a role in granting voting rights to residents of the District of Columbia. The Twenty-third Amendment, ratified in 1961, extended the right to vote in presidential elections to citizens residing in the District of Columbia, granting them representation in the Electoral College as if they were a state. This was a significant step in ensuring that the residents of the nation's capital had a voice in electing the president.
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The Residence Act of 1790
The Residence Act specified that the capital would encompass an area of no more than "ten miles square" (10 miles or 16 km on each side, for a maximum area of 100 square miles or 259 square km). President Washington was given the authority to appoint commissioners to oversee the project and decide on the exact location, with the requirement that suitable buildings be ready for government offices by the first Monday in December 1800. The Act designated Philadelphia as the temporary capital for a period of ten years while the new capital was being constructed.
The decision to locate the capital along the Potomac River was influenced by the desire to have a central" location that was equally accessible to all. This idea of a central capital reflected the emerging democracy of the United States, where power was held by the people rather than a monarch. The Potomac River site was also chosen to address the North-South conflicts that were present at the time, with northern members of Congress supporting the legislation in exchange for the federal government assuming state debts.
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The role of Alexander Hamilton
The US Constitution does not explicitly mention a national capital, but it does establish the US Congress, which is the legislative branch of the federal government. The Constitution also outlines the role of the president, who is the head of the executive branch. The location of the capital is therefore implied by the need to have a central location for the federal government to function.
Alexander Hamilton played a significant role in deciding the location of the US national capital. Hamilton was an influential figure in the early years of the United States, serving as the first Secretary of the Treasury under President George Washington from 1789 to 1795. He was also a military officer and statesman, and his influence is still felt across the world today. Hamilton is recognised as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and his portrait is on the ten-dollar bill.
Hamilton helped to broker a compromise between the northern and southern states regarding the location of the capital. The southern states had already paid their debts and were reluctant to see the national government assume the debts of the northern states. In exchange for support from the northern states in assuming these debts, Hamilton agreed to locate the capital along the Potomac River in present-day Washington, D.C. This compromise also included a provision for Philadelphia to be the temporary capital for ten years until the new capital was ready.
Hamilton also played a significant role in shaping the economic policies of the young nation. He set a precedent by using the "'implied powers' of the Constitution to create a national debt, public credit, and national bank. Hamilton's economic plan included the creation of the First Bank of the United States, modelled on the Bank of England. This bank held government funds, issued loans to the government, provided currency, and increased liquid capital to facilitate economic growth. Hamilton also founded the Revenue Cutter Service, which later became the US Coast Guard, to protect trade and enforce tariffs.
Hamilton's vision for a strong central government and a modern liberal capitalist economy influenced his approach to the location of the capital. He believed that the capital should be a Federal City, not controlled by any state government, to ensure that no state had an advantage over the others. Hamilton's influence extended beyond his official role as Secretary of the Treasury, as he was an integral member of Washington's cabinet and a trusted adviser to the president.
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The influence of Thomas Jefferson
The US Constitution does not explicitly mention a national capital, but it does establish a federal government, which necessitates a capital city. The location of the capital was a contentious issue, with northern states wanting it in Pennsylvania or New York, and southern states wanting it further south.
Thomas Jefferson was unable to attend the 1787 Constitution Convention as he was serving as the United States minister in France. However, he remained well-informed and involved through his correspondence with James Madison, and he supported the Constitution. Jefferson wanted the new Constitution to include a written Bill of Rights to guarantee personal liberties, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom from standing armies, trial by jury, and habeas corpus. He also supported the separation of church and state and advocated for a federal government of limited powers.
As the first secretary of state, vice president, leader of the first political opposition party, and third president of the United States, Jefferson played a significant role in shaping the nation's capital and defining the powers of the Constitution. He was involved in the planning, design, and construction of the national capitol and the federal district, and he sought to establish a federal government with limited powers. Jefferson also drafted an advertisement for a national competition for the design of the capitol building, though his own anonymous submission for a circular Capitol was rejected.
Jefferson's influence extended beyond the physical planning of the capital to the broader principles that would shape the emerging republic. He supported the ending of the importation of slaves and maintained a strict interpretation of the Constitution, even when it conflicted with his actions, such as in the constitutionally questionable Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson's principles were tested during his presidency, but he stood firm in his beliefs and worked to cut the federal budget and taxes while reducing the national debt.
Jefferson's influence on the US Constitution and the national capital was significant, and he helped shape the early years of the nation through his political philosophy and his efforts to establish a federal government with limited powers.
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The impact of the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783
The Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 (also known as the Philadelphia Mutiny) was an anti-government protest by nearly 400 soldiers of the Continental Army. The mutiny was caused by soldiers' demands for higher pay and better housing conditions. On June 17, 1783, Congress received a message from soldiers of the Continental Army stationed in Philadelphia, demanding payment for their service in the war. When Congress ignored their request, the soldiers marched into Philadelphia, barricaded Congress inside Independence Hall, and continued to demand payment.
The impact of the mutiny was significant. Firstly, it led to the Congress of the Confederation vacating Philadelphia and relocating to Princeton, New Jersey, which became the provisional capital of the United States. The mutiny highlighted the need for a federal district that was distinct from the states and where Congress could provide for its own protection. As a result, the framers of the Constitution decided to create a federal district for the capital, which ultimately became Washington, D.C.
The mutiny also had economic consequences. Alexander Hamilton, a delegate from New York, played a crucial role in negotiating with the soldiers and later in shaping the country's economic policies. Hamilton believed that the federal government should assume the unpaid debts that the states had incurred during the Revolution. This idea was controversial, as some states had already paid their debts and were reluctant to see others benefit from the proposal. However, it was agreed that the federal government would take on war debt, which helped pave the way for a compromise on the location of the capital.
The Pennsylvania Mutiny also influenced the decision-making process regarding the location of the capital. Initially, there were proposals to locate the capital in the North, preferably in Pennsylvania or New York. However, the mutiny's impact on Congress's decision-making process highlighted the need for a "'central'" location that was equally accessible to all. This compromise resulted in the selection of Washington, D.C., as the nation's capital, located along the Potomac River.
In conclusion, the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 had far-reaching consequences. It led to the creation of a federal district for the capital, economic negotiations, and a compromise on the location of the capital, ultimately resulting in the establishment of Washington, D.C., as the nation's capital city. The mutiny also served as a reminder to the Founding Fathers of the importance of a secure and accessible capital, independent of state influence.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the US Constitution mentions the creation of a federal district to become the seat of the government of the United States.
The US Constitution mentions the creation of a national capital in Article I, Section 8.
Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the power to create a federal district to “become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful buildings."
The national capital of the US is Washington, D.C.
