Page 22 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

20  INTRODUCING W ASHINGT ON , DC

Revolutionary Years
Some 100 years after the first settlers arrived,
frustration over British rule began to grow,
both in the Potomac region and elsewhere
in the 13 American colonies. In 1775, the col­
onies began their struggle for independence.
On April 19, shots were fired at Lexington,
Massachusetts by American colonists who
wanted “no taxation without representation,”
thus beginning the War of Independence.
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of
Independence was issued as colonists
attempted to sever ties with Britain. Revolt led
to revolution, and the newly formed United
States won an important victory at Saratoga,
New York in 1777. The French came to the
aid of the Americans and finally, on October
19, 1781, the British, led by Lord Cornwallis,
surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. This ended Meeting in New York of the first delegates of Congress to discuss
the war and as sured the independence of the the location for a new capital city
United States. The peace treaty was signed in
Paris on September 3, 1783. Britain agreed A New City
to boundaries giving the US all territory to The Constitution of the United States,
the south of what is now Canada, north of ratified in 1788, allowed for the cre ation
Florida, and west to the Mississippi River. of a seat of government, not to exceed
The Continental Congress, a legislative 10 square miles, which would be ruled
body of representatives from the newly by the United States Congress. This area
formed states, appointed a committee to was to be independent and not part of
draft the country’s first constitution. The any state. At the first meeting of Congress
result was the Articles of Confederation, in New York City in 1789, a dispute arose
which established a union of the newly between northern and southern delegates
created states but provided the central over where the capital should be located.
government with little power. This later Secretary of the Treasury Alexander
gave way to a stronger form of government, Hamilton and Secretary of State Thomas
created by the delegates of the Federal Jefferson worked out an agreement
Con stitutional Convention in Philadelphia whereby the debts incurred by northern
in May, 1787. George Washington was states during the Revolution would be
unanimously chosen to be president. taken over by the government, and
He took office on April 30, 1789. in return the capital would be located in

1783 The US and 1787 The Federal 1793 President
1781 The British Britain sign the Constitutional Convention Washington lays
surrender at Yorktown Treaty of Paris meets in Philadelphia the Capitol’s
cornerstone
1775 1780 1785 1790 1795
1775 The first battles of the 1789 Delegates gather in 1792 Construction
American Revolution are fought New York City to discuss begins on the
at Lexington and Concord a location for the capital President’s House (later
Articles of 1791 President Washington the White House)
Confederation obtains land for the capital city

020-021_EW_Washington.indd 20 04/04/17 2:38 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
History Portrait template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm