Page 23 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

THE HIST OR Y OF W ASHINGT ON , DC  21

the south. George Washington
chose an area that incorporated
land from both Maryland and
Virginia, and included the
towns of Alexandria and
Georgetown. It was to
be known as the city of
Washington. At Suter’s Tavern
in Georgetown, Washington
convinced local residents to
sell their land for £25 an acre.
He chose a surveyor, Andrew
Ellicott, and his assistant
Benjamin Banneker, a free
African-American, to lay Ellicott’s engraved map of 1792, based on L’Enfant’s plan
out the streets and lots.
Washington also invited Major Pierre War of 1812
Charles L’Enfant to create a grand design Tension with Britain over restrictions on trade
for the new capital city (see p69). and freedom of the seas began to escalate
In 1800 the government was moved during James Madison’s administration. On
to Washington. President John Adams June 18, 1812, the US declared war on Britain.
and his wife Abigail took up residence In August 1814, British troops reached
in the new President’s House, designed Wash ington and officers at the Capitol fled,
by James Hoban, which was later renamed taking the Declaration of Indepen dence and
the White House by Theodore Roosevelt. the Constitution with them. First Lady Dolley
The city remained empty of residents Madison escaped from the White House
for many years while the building with Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of George
works took place. Washington. On August 24, the British
defeated the Americans at
Bladensburg, a suburb of
Washington. They set fire to the
War Department, the Treasury,
the Capitol, and the White House.
Only a night of heavy rain
prevented the city’s destruction.
The Treaty of Ghent, which
finally ended the war, was
signed on February 17, 1815
The British attack on Washington, DC in August 1814 in the Octagon.

1814 The British set fire to Washington
1815 President
1802 Robert Brent Madison signs the
appointed first mayor 1812 US declares Treaty of Ghent
of Washington war on Britain with Britain
1795 1800 1805 1810 1815
1800 The seat 1804 President Jefferson initiates the
of government Lewis and Clark expedition which resulted The signing of the
is transferred in the discovery of America’s West Coast Treaty of Ghent
from Philadelphia
to Washington

020-021_EW_Washington.indd 21 04/04/17 2:38 pm