Glorious Capital or Merely a Swamp?

Politically, Washington provided a unique opportunity for the developing nation; it fell neatly in the center of the country, without having ties to any state in particular, and was close to the Potomac offering gateway to the west. The lines were drawn between north and south, Federalist and Republican, and farmers and merchants, as political and economic questions swept the fledgling country.

Establishing a home for the capital was not the only problem that the leaders of the country faced as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were divided on how the city should be developed. The differences in the architectural and agricultural plans were deeply rooted in the view of the government. George Washington had always believed in a strong central government which was run out of a grand city. Jefferson on the other hand, believed in the power of the states, and an organically grown capital, allowed to change and spread over time. This left large differences in the two leaders’ plans, most notably in the size of the capital. Jefferson’s plan was to use only 1500 acres, most of which would be developed into parks and city buildings, while Washington’s plan involved 5000 acres with grand buildings clearly demonstrating the separation of power between the legislative and executive branches.

It is evident, based on the current layout of the city that the government chose to take a more Washingtonian approach to the layout, with a strong structure of crisscrossing streets. These streets were also labeled in the most politically favorable way possible, naming a street based on its geographic location north to south. This system provided a simple way of appeasing the northern and southern states once again.  It is unclear what the capital would look like today had the developers built the city that Jefferson intended. I believe the strongly structured design of the city is what helped it grow in the magnificent city it has become. The nation’s capital has become a beautiful town square for people around the world to enjoy, full of knowledge and history, yet built out of a “mere swamp.”