George Washington and the Building of a Capital City: A Lesson in Leadership

Despite America's newly won independence, a bitter dispute over whether to have a capital and where to locate it almost tore the young nation apart. The key role George Washington played in settling this question is a little-known tale of founding-period intrigue and an underappreciated side of Washington's exceptional political skill and leadership.

Robert P. Watson, Distinguished Professor of American History at Lynn University, presents a fascinating look at the forces that influenced Washington's passion and vision for the capital city and the intense political struggle to build it. He shares some little-known and interesting stories about both George Washington and the early days of the city, and explains how, in time, the location and design of the grand capital helped to allay some of the political bickering, gave the new nation some much-needed credibility in the eyes of the world, strengthened the fledgling republic, and imbued the people with a new sense of national identity. Washington’s consensus-building deserves close study today.

Watson’s upcoming book, George Washington’s Final Battle: The Epic Struggle to Build a Capital City and a Nation (Georgetown University Press), is available for purchase.

Book Sale Information

• Purchase your copy of George Washington’s Final Battle: The Epic Struggle to Build a Capital City and a Nation by Robert P. Watson here.
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