Establishing America’s Capital: The Early Struggles of Washington D.C.

Indianapolis, IN

Perhaps no location in North America has had a larger historic and political impact as Washington D.C. What now serves as the symbol for America’s democracy was once nothing more than an over-farmed wetland. Prior to Civil War the capital was unkempt and decrepit. Perhaps the sharpest criticism came from foreign eyes, such as British author Charles Dickens. Through primary documents and secondary accounts, this research begins to answer the question as to why the founders were unable to realize their desires for a grand capital. Southern mistrust of the northern states led to a compromised location. With a southern capital and a lack of capable manpower the construction proceeded upon the back of slave labor, embedding slavery into the social structure of the nation’s capital. National ambition led to the implementation of a canal system that would lay stagnant, leading to death and disease throughout the capital. Consistent throughout all these problems was the decentralized nature of the young country. As American legislators looked to solely serve their home state, the needs of the nation were often left unaddressed. By examining all factors, one can begin to understand why Washington D.C. struggled until after the Civil War.