Washington

Washington DC History

The Swamp That Became the Nation's Capital

It all started with a dispute- an intellectual grudge match between three of history's most effervescent and willful American personalities. Alexander Hamilton- he of the Broadway musical, and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. General, now President, Washington, had tasked the trio with a mission: "get me a capital". It was an intellectual, free-for-all debate. There was backstabbing, begging, blackmail, skulduggery, and just about everything you could expect for a Capitol Hill political event. Jefferson and Madison wanted a Capital close to southern rules in a location friendly to slave holdings. Hamilton wanted one up north. The deadlock was settled in what would eventually be called the "dinner table bargain". Who won? It's up for debate. Jefferson and Madison came out with a swath of land, close to Jefferson's stronghold in Virginia- the District of Columbia, Hamilton with a prized position that gave him access to millions of dollars and the ability to pay state debts- the decision that created the capital was called the Compromise of 1790. And like all compromises, the measure of one is the fact that no party comes out of the affair happy. And that, in a nutshell, is the spirit of Washington DC. A spirit born of backroom dealings, of concessions, and one where no party comes out smelling like roses.

Washington DC: The Swamp That Quickly Became the World's Political Capital

Located on the east bank of the Potomac River, Washington DC- named after perhaps one of the most famous and prolific leaders in history- was formally created in 1791. Since then, it has had a rather colorful history. Twenty two years after its founding, the British stormed the Capital. A carefully strategized assault, a result of the War of 1812, and burned it to the ground. The Capitol, the Treasury, and the White House were gutted during the raid. From that moment forward, as if caught in a loop, the nation's capital has seen all manner of passion plays. The outset of the Civil War, The Emancipation Proclamation, hundreds of soldiers, seeking their pay- robbed of their rights and liberties; assassinations, scandals, and just about everything you could expect from the land that drew such power.

Men and women, like Honest Abe, Abigail Adams, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Martin Luther King Jr., used this seat of power to change history.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single  garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

Hundreds of changes have swept the Washington lnadscape. Some for the better, some for the worst, but like the eternal flame in Arlington, the city perserveres. It grows, it tries to adhere to its values and better angels, and it strives to embody the ideals this nation was built on- the ethos of the American Dream.

Democracy, rights, liberty, opportunity, and equality.