250 to 250: 33. Establishment of Washington D.C., Narrated by Lisa Ann Walter

 

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Establishment of Washington D.C., Narrated by Lisa Ann Walter

Lisa Ann Walter is an actress, comedian, and producer who proudly calls Washington, D.C. her hometown. Walter was born and raised in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area where she marched in protests for women’s reproductive rights and the Equal Right Amendment, as well as against the Vietnam War. Walter later went to college in the area, researching and writing her term papers at the Library of Congress. Her connection and understanding of the area are why she narrates our explainer about how Washington D.C. became America’s capital.  

After the American Revolution, the U.S. capital moved from city to city.

• The first capital was New York City.
• Later, the capital moved to Philadelphia.
• The country wanted one permanent capital city.
• Northern and southern states disagreed about where the capital should be.
• Alexander Hamilton wanted the federal government to pay the states' Revolutionary War debts.
• James Madison and Thomas Jefferson thought this plan was unfair to the southern states.
• The leaders reached a compromise.

In 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act.

• The law created a permanent capital along the Potomac River.
• George Washington chose the location for the new capital.
• The new capital became Washington, D.C..
• Washington, D.C., is still the capital of the United States today.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz:

• N-400 Part 4:01 When did you first begin to live at your current physical (home) address?
• USCIS 100:67The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution.  Name one of the writers.
• USCIS 100:94. / 128:119. What is the capital of the United States?
• USCIS 128:87. Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.

Family Fun

• DC History: Interactive Timeline
• NPS: National Mall and Memorial Parks | Junior Ranger Booklet
• Open Data DC: Washington DC Historic Boundary Stones interactive map
• White House Historical Society: Survey of Washington D.C. - 1792
• Woodson Center: Benjamin Banneker lesson plan
• USCIS: A More Perfect Union: Guide to the Monuments and Memorials on the National Mall for the 2008 Civics Test (13 pdfs!)
• uscitizenpod: The Establishment of Washingon DC (updated) | Planners of Washington DC coloring pages (note the old spelling of the river)
• "Potomac" is a European spelling of Patawomeck, the local Native American tribe.  There were many alternative spellings of this name.