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In 1791, the newly established Federal Government of America was quickly gaining stance. To establish a concrete foundation upon which to expand the government, George Washington selected the District of Columbia to be the official Capitol of America as well as the permanent home to many of the government’s buildings. To house the Legislative Branch, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson commissioned the construction of the U.S. Capitol Building. After a falling out with lead architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant, Jefferson announced a competition to find a suitable architect to construct the building. During this time, a physician and amateur architect living in the British West Indies by the name of William Thornton submitted plans for the Capitol Building. The symmetrical symbolism of the two houses, coupled with the replicated grandeur of ancient roman temples won his design over the 17 other plans submitted. The commissioners as well as Washington commended the overall simplistic elegance of the design. It was formally approved on July 25, of 1793. Thornton’s inventive design, neoclassical influence, and political motivations led the capitol building to become one of the most dramatic and influential buildings in America. …show more content…
Two wings on the north and south of the building were envisioned to represent the two houses of congress. The central section included a large pediment and a low dome supported by columns. Though Thornton created the original design, Jefferson commissioned several other architects in order to achieve a quicker working pace and add professional insight to Thornton’s design. Among this commission of architects was James Hoban, who was a key factor in improving the interior design, while working within the parameters of Thornton’s
During the American Revolutionary War, all of the states had incurred a lot of debt from other foreign nations. So Hamilton decided that America must pay back this debt so that they could maintain peace and regulate commerce with European countries. The southern states had paid off their debt but the northern states were still in debt. So he composed a compromise - The south would not protest the Federal government paying off any northern states that still had debt, in the condition that the south chose where the national capital would be built. This compromise worked as the entire United States debt was paid off and the capital was constructed in the District of Columbia (DC) within a few years. In the construction of the capital, Maryland and Virginia donated land for the capital. The importance of this plan was that they had no debt, so this would bring power and respect to the United States from the European countries by keeping peace with everybody and allowing for continued trade. Because who would trade with a country that has debt with
The meeting in Philadelphia was successful, it is known as the Constitutional Conventional. James Madison went to the meeting in Philadelphia it was his idea to create the United States in a republican model. The people would have the power in the form of representatives. Madison and his fellow Virginians came up with the details and a plan for the new government, it was known as the Virginia Plan. And Madison became known as the father of the constitution.
Other politicians were opposed to this, such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Their opposition to the plan went away as assumptions became associated with other less controversial plans of Hamilton’s. Madison even turned in defense of the plan after being convinced of Hamilton’s financial vision (Bowers 61). Hamilton made a compromise, turning out in his favor when he allowed Madison and Jefferson to have a capital on the Potomac River. This allowed him to pass his plan more easily while giving up something of little importance to him or the country’s wellbeing (Bowers 65).
The United States Congress was created by the framers of the Constitution as the most important part of the legislative branch of the national government. The Congress was set up with a bicameral structure composed by the House of Representatives or Lower Chamber and the Senate or Upper Chamber. According to “Origins and Development” and “History of the House”, two descriptions of the history of the Congress, both chambers assembled for the very first time in New York in 1789 and then moved to Philadelphia in 1790 where they stayed for 10 years. In 1800 the Congress moved to Washington, DC; however, it was not until 1857 and 1859 that the House of Representatives and the Senate respectively moved to their current meeting locations in the Capitol after its restoration due to the British invasion of 1814 that burned the building. With more than two centuries legislating, the Congress has acquired great expertise in governing the country and meeting the Constitution’s mandates. Yet, in order to accomplish all its tasks the Congress has a very well-defined structure and very specific ways to proceed. Indeed, in order to undertake the most important of its mandates, “to enact law”, the Congress has a rigorous procedure that is combined with some of the different structural elements of Congress which indicate the direction that bills must follow once introduced. One of the most important of such elements is the congressional committee structure.
New York City, due to its historic atmosphere and exciting nature, contains many of the nation’s political wonders. From Christopher Street, in Greenwich Village to Fraunces Tavern, in downtown Manhattan, New York has paved the way to a plethora of the nation’s historical and eye-opening moments. As one of the most renowned sites that is worth the extra trip to Wall Street, Federal Hall is an imperative building that continues to symbolize the nation’s journey to a structured government by being the center of events such as George Washington’s inauguration as president and the introduction of the Bill of Rights during the First Congress.
Initially, the Northeast Portico displays Thomas Jefferson’s deep appreciation for Architecture. Jefferson himself got the idea for this wall from James Gibb’s Book of Architecture. He used the book and designed a wall based on one of his designs. The original blueprint was supposed to be used for an octagonal structure, and Jefferson used it for just one wall. This shows that Jefferson cares for architecture and understands the art, for designing a wall based another design takes care and comprehension. The compass rose he has on the top of the building also shows his love of architecture. The compass itself was connected to a weather vane on top of the roof. Allowing Jefferson and his family to see the wind direction easily. The compass rose must have been a big part in building the home, as the compass involved a weather vane being built on top of the house. Thomas Jefferson must love architecture because a compass rose is not traditional part of most homes, so he must have wanted it there or a reason. He must’ve requested it once he built the home. Thomas Jefferson had a big appreciation for books, and the Northeast Portico in his house demonstrates that.
Jefferson’s accomplishments were most greatly seen by the ability to simplify the Republican government in the new capital by cutting back the unnecessary branches and less useful positions while replacing Federalists with Republicans. And by the year 1808, Republicans held almost all the government offices. At the same time Jefferson fought to keep the size of the government from continuously growing.
The Jefferson Memorial is a testimonial to the past, present, and future of the United States. Its architecture, like most neo-Classical buildings, gives a sense of permanence. This permanence has a history far older than many would suspect. Centuries ago and thousands of miles away a building was erected that would later become the model for which many other buildings, including the Jefferson Memorial, are based upon. This building is the Roman Pantheon. Though the Jefferson Memorial borrows the basic form and elements from the Pantheon, the Memorial has distinctive differences from its predecessor.
First of all, the Capitol had a large significance during revolutionary times in American history. It was the location of the meeting place for the House of Burgesses. Likewise, it was the place where the House of Burgesses made the decision to recede Virginia from England, becoming the first colony to speak for independence from England. That meeting paved the road of Independence for the other colonies to follow. After that, the burgesses had their final meeting in the Capitol before moving to the new capital, Richmond. The Capitol served many people after that, acting as an admiralty court, a law school, a military hospital (Rev. War), a grammar school, and a female academy. Thus, the Capitol has majorly helped in affirming
This is because the government there was the first government to vote for a written constitution. The Constitution of the United States is a document that tells us the fundamental laws of government in the USA. In other words, the Constitution tells us how to live today, which can be very convenient. The idea of having a constitution came from James Madison, who was called "Father of the Constitution". Therefore, Madison was an extremely important person in today’s world, and so was George Mason, who took the lead in writing the US Constitution. Thus, the Capitol is ever so useful to this
"Five hundred dollars will be the reward for the architect who sets forth the plans for our nations new capitol building." Thomas Jefferson stated. He was also included in the long list of contestants who submitted thier construction designs. Three months after the contest ended, a man by the name of Dr .William Thorton submitted his designs of the capital. (Prolman, 5)
For much of the last millennia many great architects have looked upon the Pantheon as a staple of classical architecture, as well as a model for many modern day buildings. Created by the Romans, the Pantheon would use many elements better than any other works of architecture to that time. No further than Columbia Missouri is this evident in the construction of what used to be known as the First Academic Building on the University of Missouri campus. The Architects Bell and Binder headed the creation of the new building after the First Academic Building burnt down in 1892. Known today as Jesse Hall, this modern day work of architecture pulls many elements from the Pantheon to create a unique work of public space. The most glaring comparison of both comes from the domes that top both buildings. Each building also shares similar characteristics in their front facades. Yet, while there are many similarities to both works, each contain unique differences in their layout and construction.
Slowly but surely Jefferson finished a small brick building, which was the south pavilion, in 1770. Later the north pavilion was finished and served as a study for his son-in-law.
The Chicago world’s fair’s official name was the World’s Columbian Exposition, and its original purpose was to commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America, however Daniel Hudson Burnham, the foremost creator, wanted it to be something enchanting, a “white city .” While Burnham wanted the fair to be a “white city” the whole fair had to be greater in all aspects than the fair in Paris in 1889, because if the fair failed the honor of the United States would be stained, and the city of Chicago would be disgraced . Burnham wanted only the best American architects of the time and their plans for the buildings were fashioned after neoclassical ideas, they had a uniform height for the cornice, in hopes of creating harmony amongst the prominent buildings .
There is a Romanesque style in the arched windows and the brick walls. The Beaux-Arts tradition is a T-shaped floor plan. The building measures 75 feet in diameter with three wings. The Rotunda’s walls are made of Italian marble and the floors have mosaic tile. The statue in the center of the floor is called “Three Muses.”