Why Washington, D.C. Became the U.S. Capital: A Historic Compromise

The selection of Washington, D.C. as the permanent national capital resulted from the Compromise of 1790, brokered by Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. Key reasons:

• Geographical balance: A midpoint between Northern and Southern states.
• Potomac River site: George Washington favored the location; land ceded by Maryland and Virginia.
• Federal district: Not part of any state, ensuring neutrality (Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution).
• Symbolic design: Pierre Charles L'Enfant's grand plan embodied national unity.

The federal government moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. in 1800.