Designing Democracy: How Washington DC Reflects the Nation
Earlier this month, I spent three days in Washington, DC — the heart of the U.S. government and a city shaped by its ideals. From the solemn stillness of Arlington Cemetery to the imposing dome of the Capitol, I was struck by how deeply the city’s layout invites reflection on democracy, power, and public memory.
Thanks to William for proofreading!
Washington, DC, was made the nation’s capital on the 16th of July, 1790. It emerged from a place of compromise between the Northern and Southern states due to war debts from the Revolutionary War. The city was a crucial development for the national identity of the newly formed United States of America. The country was young and in need of proving itself to what was previously the most powerful Navy; as such, it required thoughtful development to mirror the strength of the organisation of this new country.
Pierre Charles L’Enfant designed a baroque-style plan of the
city in 1791 and established an innovative design that would later be mirrored
in America and globally. His enthusiasm was undeniable, and he even contacted
President George Washington to ask to be considered in 1789. It was not until
1790, under the Residence Act, that L’Enfant could begin planning within the
remit of the act – that the new capital would be located on the Potomac River
between the Anacostia River and the Conococheague Creek near Maryland. The
innovation L’Enfant utilised was grid-designs running east to west and north to
south. These often spread from the Capitol building and highlighted Washington,
DC, as a centre of democracy for generations to come.
The enduring architectural legacy of L’Enfant will become
clear below. By examining today's city and its buildings and monuments, it will
be argued that democracy as an idea and practice is best exhibited through the
relationship between the city’s design and those who interact within it. Here,
‘democracy’ refers to the affirmation of equal representation within
government, upheld by both everyday citizens and elected officials alike.
To appreciate the emotional and spatial power of
Washington’s layout, one must step back and view the city. From Arlington House,
visitors are treated to the extraordinary view of the city, from the Lincoln
Memorial to Congress in the distance. Established in 1864, it holds a sacred
space in American history – those buried represent America’s past but crucially
look out towards the future of their nation. Initially owned by Washington
Parke Curtis, the land was purchased under Congressional law permitting the US
federal government from purchasing land for national cemeteries on the 16th
of July 1862. The idea of democracy is enshrined in the landscape of Arlington,
from its view of DC to the people buried there. Soldiers, workers, and
Presidents all have aimed to shape the democratic decisions of not just the
country but the world too.
Arlington Bridge connects the National Cemetery to the heart
of democracy. As one reaches the city, they are immediately struck by the rear
of the Lincoln Memorial. The sixteenth President was assassinated on April 14,
1865, and was memorialised shortly after. However, in 1867, Congress passed the
first bill to ensure a fitting memorial would be commissioned for President
Lincoln's efforts. The necessity for this monument comes from the actions of Lincoln himself - who led the Union during the American Civil War and committed to the ending of enslavement. He was a pioneer in the push for
American equality – freedom being exemplified not just as a national call but a
national identity within its people. Yet, it was not until 1913 that a design
was approved and funded. The monument, with its Greek temple design, is quite
the spectacle and was finally completed in 1922. It features an inscription
directly behind President Lincoln: “In this temple as in the hearts of the
people for whom he saved the union; the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined
forever.”
The decision by the architect and federal government to
dedicate it as a ‘temple’ is telling. It shows the importance of the union to
the country. No matter how divided Americans become, they must work together
for the union. The union represents democracy, the ability for them to govern, and
the ability to interact globally. It acts as a magnet for the people – pulling
them in and forcing lawmakers to engage with it, and with each other.
People of all walks of life can interact with the space,
protestors can share their voice and lawmakers can respond with change for a
positive society. Take the likes of Martin Luther King Jr and his I Have a
Dream speech on the 28th of August 1963 – change being called for on
the steps of a monument that stood for the freedom of enslaved people and
called for a new America. It stands in an important place, with Lincoln looking
out along the National Mall towards the Capitol building. By facing these
national monuments and not the seat of the current executive office – the home
of the President, the White House – the significance of the democratic process
is revealed.
In a similar strain to the view of Arlington (the importance
of the past), Lincoln (a prominent past President) overlooks the mall and the
future. These are standing reminders of where America has come from and what it
must remember to keep peace and cohesion going forward. However, the White
House's lack of interaction in this space must be acknowledged. As established,
the Lincoln Memorial looks down the Mall toward the Capitol — not toward the
present, but toward the future. The White House is ultimately the seat of the
current President and their family, not the country's future. The location of
the monuments and the prominence of the likes of the Lincoln Memorial statue
looking out to the heart of democracy signals the necessity of the people
walking around and visiting Washington DC also to pay attention to the
distance. It calls people to look to the Capitol, to go to it, and,
importantly, engage in understanding the importance of democracy for the future
of the union.
The heart of American democracy is the Capitol. This is
reflected in its interaction with the city and its people. Visitors, citizens
and lawmakers can all see the site from the National Mall and surrounding areas.
L’Enfant who designed the city layout placed the new Capitol on Jenkins Hill as
he felt it was “a pedestal awaiting a monument.”[1]
This indicates the importance of space in the experience of democracy for
America. Every aspect of Washington DC is carefully mapped, inviting visitors
to look towards the country and its future. Again, the building faces the country's
past, looking towards Arlington and the Lincoln Memorial – and not to the
current sitting President. It truly acts as a centre point for Washington, with
the site including a compass in the centre of the building.
The grandeur of the building further illustrates its
importance. The design to incorporate white stone and Parthenon-style
architecture links America to past civilisations like the Greeks. It symbolises
an enlightened elite class who wish to push forward and forge a new identity,
very much in the style of the Founding Fathers, who led their nation forward. The
city and its Capitol are very much centred on the past, the present, and the
future. The future of America rests in the branches of government, including
the Capitol, which intends to secure the freedom of Americans and better their
future.
Under the ‘Freedom’ statue on top of the building’s rotunda, you can’t help but be struck by the implication of ‘Freedom’ looking out over Washington, DC, towards the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. At a time when Americans of minority backgrounds and many government employees are facing their roles being cut, you can’t help but feel the juxtaposition of freedom with the chaos of America today. Choice is limited, people are worried, and their cost of living is rising. Society is not as free to choose for itself. People’s rights are being stripped away, and as a woman myself, I can only feel concern for my sisters across the ocean.
In January of 2021, following the loss of the Presidential
campaign, republican supporters stormed the US Capitol. This US temple of
freedom and democracy was attacked by its citizens, acting to change what they
saw as an injustice. As I walked from Capitol Hill to the US Capitol building,
I couldn’t help but be struck by the size and scale of this building. It is approximately
3.2 times larger than the White House – the home of the incumbent President – and
would have been quite hard to enter. Yet, it was stormed, and acts of violence
were carried out. As a historian*, I am used to reading about battles and
conflicts of society and states. Still, nothing can prepare you for seeing
somewhere under attack in person not so long ago and re-walking such well-documented
steps. The US is divided by political ideas, but it is certainly united in the
concept of a nation as a whole, and this much is shown through the landscape of
Washington, DC. United and streets branching away from its capital building are
named after each state itself.
The size and unity of Washington, DC, in both its political importance
and architecture are powerful. Constructed to be the heart of a new nation –
pushing ahead on its terms, for freedom, liberty and justice. The capital is,
as such, deliberately constructed to invoke a sense of democratic identity. From
walking through Arlington, to standing at the base of the Capitol, to meeting
Lincoln’s gaze, Washington is a city designed to enmesh its people in its story
and what it stands for.
[1] "U.S.
Capitol Historical Society | CAPITOL HISTORY". Archived from the
original on October 23, 2008.
*As a history student, we are often called ‘historians’,
but I feel underqualified on the best days.
Breathtaking!
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