The area now known as Washington, D.C. was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Nacotchtank, who lived along the Potomac River. European colonists arrived in the early 1600s, with the Maryland colony claiming the territory. As the United States gained independence in the late 18th century, debates emerged over the location of a permanent national capital. The decision to establish a new federal city was part of a compromise between northern and southern states.
The Residence Act of 1790, signed by President George Washington, authorized the creation of a capital district along the Potomac River. Washington personally selected the site, strategically located between the northern and southern states. French-born architect and engineer Pierre Charles L’Enfant was commissioned to design the new city. His plan featured grand boulevards and ceremonial spaces reminiscent of European capitals, centered around the Capitol and White House.
Construction began in the late 1790s, with the Capitol and White House as focal points. However, growth was slow. The city’s swampy terrain, limited infrastructure, and political instability hindered early development. In 1800, the federal government officially relocated to the new city, marking the beginning of Washington, D.C.’s role as the seat of American power.