Washington, D.C. was created as the permanent capital of the United States by the Residence Act, passed by Congress after a political compromise in which Northern states accepted a southern site in return for federal assumption of state war debts. President George Washington selected the exact location on the Potomac River, and land was ceded by Maryland and Virginia, though the Virginia portion was returned in 1846. The French-born engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant drew up the original city plan, with broad avenues radiating from the Capitol and the White House. The federal government moved to the new city in 1800. British troops burned the Capitol and the White House during the War of 1812.
Before and after
- from 1790 to 1792Third Anglo-Mysore War
- 29 March 1790Birth of John Tyler
- 17 April 1790Death of Benjamin Franklin
- 12 July 1790Civil Constitution of the Clergy
- 16 July 1790Founding of Washington, D.C.
- 17 July 1790Death of Adam Smith
- 16 December 1790Birth of Leopold I of Belgium
- 23 December 1790Birth of Jean-François Champollion
- c. 1791Publication of The Magic Flute
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 1831Discovery of Lewis chessmen
- from 17 March 1861 to 18 June 1946Kingdom of Italy
- from 23 October 1868 to 30 July 1912Meiji era
- October 1871Schliemann begins digging at Hisarlik
- 1879Altamira cave paintings are discovered
- 1899Oracle bones reveal early Chinese writing
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 18th century.