The choice of the Potomac for the nation's capital was controversial. While everyone agreed that a central location was necessary, regional interests surfaced as congressmen recognized its potential economic and political benefits. They also debated the question of the temporary capital. Should New York City or Philadelphia host the federal government until the permanent site was ready? The
complicated negotiations over funding and assumption resulted in moving the temporary capital from New York to Philadelphia as well as locating the new city on the Potomac. President Washington and his fellow Virginians supervised the development of the capital. The Residence Act of 1790 gave the president authority to select a ten-mile square location somewhere along the Potomac; he chose the land on both sides of the river that included Alexandria, Virginia, and Georgetown, Maryland. The federal city would be built in neither of those towns, but on open land on the east bank of the river. Washington appointed a surveyor, three commissioners to manage the project, and Pierre Charles L'Enfant to design the layout of the capital and its major buildings. L'Enfant's grandiose street plan and Greek and Roman architecture expressed an exalted vision of the republic. The commissioners named the federal city "Washington" and the entire district "Columbia." The president expected to finance construction by selling lots in the capital, thinking that land prices would skyrocket as citizens valued proximity to the seat of government. Instead, land sold poorly and lack of money undermined the project. At one of the failed auctions, even the participation of the president and a parade of two brass bands and an artillery troop could not foster sales. When the commissioners suspended construction temporarily for insufficient funds, L'Enfant protested and was fired. His plan for grand boulevards, public squares, fountains, and imposing buildings was retained, but its execution would wait. For a decade the enterprise limped along, saved by grants from Maryland and Virginia. In 1800, when the government moved to Washington, the president's mansion was still unfinished and only one wing of the Capitol had been built. The main purpose of the passage is to
a. argue that the capital should have been situated in Virginia.
b. explain the events that led to the building of Washington, D.C.
c. give reasons why Washington, D.C. was situated outside of Virginia andMaryland.
d. praise George Washington for his leadership in setting up the new capital.
b
You might also like to view...
Prenez la parole.
Vous faites un effort pour parler français comme les Fran¬çais(es)! Alors, selon le modèle, utilisez les expressions typiques du texte pour les situations suivantes
Elena Valdecillos. Juanita is talking about a candidate that she supports. Complete the paragraph with the correct form of each verb in the present perfect indicative or present perfect subjunctive, according to the context.? No creo que los otros candidatos __________ ____________________ (crear) programas para los pobres y estoy segura de que ningún candidato __________ ____________________ (defender) los derechos humanos como ella.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
VI. ¡A escuchar!Vas a escuchar un programa de radio llamado "Domingo digital". Después de escucharlo, responde a lo siguiente. ¿Qué tipo de doctor es el doctor Delgado? ¿En qué se especializa?
What will be an ideal response?
Read the following paragraph and answer the questions after the paragraph.
On the surface, the leather motorcycle jacket is a comparatively simple creation. It comes in two basic designs: The plainer of the two is a single-breasted version with two vertical side pockets and a center zipper. However, Brando, Dean, and a million lookalikes have always favored the more exotic (and original) double-breasted number with asymmetrical front zipper to provide the wearer with a double layer of chest protection, created by the Schott Brothers Leather Company in 1928 and copied ad infinitum ever since. “Grandpa Schott was commissioned by Harley-Davidson to come up with a jacket for bikers—there was nothing made especially for bikers before then,” says Roz Schott, the company’s vice president. Both styles have two short zips on the sleeve that can close the cuffs tight on the wrists to prevent ballooning and protect the arms in a wipeout. —Mick Farren 1. What is Farren’s general message or purpose in this paragraph? 2. When does this paragraph move from one to many? From many to one? Division: Classification: 3. How does the author organize this paragraph?