Who chose the spot for the US country's capital?

Answer 1

Well I don't know exactly which person suggested it but it was suggested by the anti-federalist party. The new capitol would be closer to the south which was where the majority of anti-feds were and they thought they could control the government better if it was on/closer to their turf rather than up north with all the federalists like it was before.

Answer 2

George Washington chose the location based upon the site's accessibilty to the Potomac River and the fact that it had been agreed that the capital would be located in a southern state. That agreement had been worked out between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison with Thomas Jefferson. Maryland and Virginia both ceded portions of their states to create the capital. Maryland gave the area north of the Potomac River and Virginia gave an area south of the Potomac. At first the capital had been a square, actually diamond shaped, but later on Virginia asked to have its portion back. Congress agreed and gave back the lower part of the capital.

Answer 3

President George Washington chose the location although there was a fair amount of discussion and political maneuvering prior to its selection.

In his "Federalist No. 43", published January 23, 1788, James Madison argued that the new federal government would need sole authority over a national capital in order to provide for its own maintenance and security. The original capital in Philadelphia, PA was obviously under the nominal jurisdiction of that city and that state.

Article One, Section Eight of the United States Constitution grants authority to establish a

District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States.

The Constitution did not specify a location for the new capital. In what later became known as the Compromise of 1790, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson came to an agreement that the federal government would assume the states' war debt on the condition that the new national capital would be located in the Southern United States. On July 16, 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, which approved the creation of a national capital to be located on the Potomac River, the exact area to be selected by President George Washington - who selected an area including and adjacent to the preexisting settlement of Georgetown, MD and incorporating part of Alexandria, VA. The land was ceded by the states of Maryland and Virgina - both of which were considered "Southern States."

Although the location was specified by Washington, the actual surveying was conducted by Andrew Ellicott and several assistants, including Benjamin Banneker, the accomplished (free) African American astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, almanac author and farmer.To one way of thinking, it was Ellicott, Banneker, and the other surveyors who chose the location.

Answer 4

It was the U.S. Congress that decided Washington, D.C. would be the capital of the nation. This occurred on July 16, 1790.

Answer 5

george washington