Why did Washington DC become the capital of the US?

Answer 1

Washington D.C. was/is located smack dab in the middle of the southern and northern regions of the United States. In this location, the nation's capital would not be seen as taking "sides", no pun intended.

Answer 2

James Madison expounded the need for a federal district on January 23, 1788, in his "Federalist No. 43", arguing that the national capital needed to be distinct from the states in order to provide for its own maintenance and safety.

The authority to establish a federal capital was provided in Article One, Section Eight, of the United States Constitution, which permits a "District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States".

The Constitution does not, however, specify a location for the new capital. In what later became known as the Compromise of 1790, Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson came to an agreement that the federal government would assume war debt carried by the states, on the condition that the new national capital would be located in the South.

On July 16, 1790, the Residence Act provided for a new permanent capital to be located on the Potomac River, the exact area to be selected by President Washington. Washington selected a square area that cut across the Potomac River. Originally Alexandria VA was the continuation of the SW quadrant, however that land was later returned to VA.

Answer 3

First, you mean WASHINGTON.

Because it was named after our first president.

Washington is where the presidents live, so of course it should be named after the first president.

Answer 4

Washington DC was established as an independent federal district, not reliant upon any state, so that the federal government could provide for its own security and maintenance. James Madison made this argument in Federalist Number 43, 23 January 1788. Article One, section eight of the Constitution provided for the creation of a "District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cessation of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States." The Constitution did not establish, however, a location. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamiliton came to an agreement, the Compromise of 1790, in which they provided that the federal government would pay the Revolutionary War debts of the states in exchange for the consession to establish the new capital in the Southern US. The Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 in which 400 angry Continental Army soldiers marched on the then capital in Philadelphia precipitated the enactment of the Capital District clause of the Constitution, and the abandonment by Congress of the capital in Philadelphia.

On 9 July 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act that established the banks of the Potomac River as the site of the new capital. The exact location was to be decided by George Washington, who it turns out was a pretty good surveyor and civic planner. A survey crew lead by Andrew Ellicott and including freed slave and astronomer Benjamin Banneker surveyed the borders or the present day location over the years 1791 and 1792. They placed marker stone every mile of the ten mile square, many of which can still be seen.

Answer 5

because it is near the Potomic River and that was once a route for trade

Answer 6

Article one Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States.