How Did Washington, D.C., Become the Federal Capital?

1.     Why was not an existing city like Boston, NYC, or Charleston chosen for the national capital?

An existing city was not chosen due to the fact there were jealousies, problems with access, private interests.  The decision to put the capital in place that was not within a state avoided all of those issues.

2. How did political struggles of the time--the "assumption bill" debate--influence the decision to place the capital on the Potomac?

The assumption bill votes were the trade off for the votes to put the capital on the Potomac River.  Hamilton went to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and the three agreed to the deal.  Madison rounded up enough votes in the southern states for assumption in exchange for the Potomac River site which was closer to those southern states and that is what they were interested in.

3. What was significant about the location chosen for Washington, DC?

The location of Washington D.C. was significant because it was located on a site which was rural and the land could be purchased from Maryland farmers.  The location was strategic to the rivers and mountains in the area.  George Washington also liked the site because of his own interests being located near it. 

4. Explain George Washington’s obvious conflict of interest over the site for the capital. Why didn’t this conflict of interest raise any concerns back in the 1790s?

George Washington owned the Potomac Company which built canals and he was the president and principal investor who would benefit the Potomac River site for the capital.  Washington owned an extensive amount of land near this site.  This location for the capital could be potentially a great investment for the President.  This probably did not raise any conflict of interest concerns because he was the first President and there was no previous history of this sort of problem and because George Washington was very well liked no one thought it was any problem.