The Capital City's Roots

      
      In Chapter 6, Wulf goes into great detail describing the creation of the nation's capital. She allows her readers to understand the enormous amount of debate leading to the creation, and she also includes the various arguments that the opposing sides, the federalists and the republicans, made for their differing stances. The federalists insisted on the nation's capital being placed in a center of commerce, such as New York. Whereas, the Republicans favored the location to be more accessible to southern farmers.
      
        However, the debate upon the nation's capital was not the only debate occurring during the time. The debate upon the country's economic structure was also ongoing, and Wulf explains just how the founding fathers were able to compromise on their disagreements. Wulf describes the way in which Jefferson hosted a dinner to allow the parties' respective figureheads, Madison and Hamilton, to discuss their various interests in the two debates. Eventually, Madison and Jefferson allow for Hamilton's economic bill to pass. In return, Hamilton agrees to position the nation's capital on the banks of the Potomac, which was the center of the existing country during the time.
      
         I believe this instance to be the most important of Chapter 6. Because of the fact it not only exemplifies the spirit of compromise, which once existed in American politics, but if also shows just how important the location of the capital was to Jefferson and Madison. The Republicans were extremely opposed to Hamilton's economic bill, but they believed that having the nation's capital located in a center of commerce to be of greater concern.

       The scale of the capital also sparked debate amongst the founding fathers. Washington's opinion was a heavy influence amongst his colleagues, but his opinion struck me as peculiar. Instead of agreeing with Jefferson on having a small scale, agrarian capital, Washington favored a large, awe inspiring city. This was not due to his favoring of industry over agriculture, but due to his belief that the nation's government should be strong enough to hold the country together. Therefore, he believed that the nation needed a well-built capital city.

     Wulf provides her readers with multiple instances in which the nation's founders compromised on various instances throughout the creation of the capital. This allows for a further understanding of the well intended nature of the leaders of the country, during this time period.