So most of us know that the British burned the major public buildings in Washington DC when they temporarily occupied the city during the course of the War of 1812. A thunderstorm (or possibly worse) moved in and prevented the fires from doing more damage.
When Congress reassembled on September 19th, they met in temporary lodgings in Washington (at the Patent Office). There was serious debate about moving the capital (at least temporarily) northwards (likely Philadelphia or New York). Those in favor of staying cited patriotism as chief reason to stay (and were bolstered by recent victories at Baltimore and elsewhere), while financial reasons were cited in part as a good reason to relocate.
Businessmen in Washington new their livelihood depended on the government staying in Washington, and they lobbied to keep the government in the city, successfully in the end (the final vote was a mere 83 to 74 in favor of staying).
SOOOOO....
What if the weather doesn't help put out the fires, and then the Battle of Baltimore doesn't go well for the Americans. With morale dropping and Washington much more damaged than OTL, Congress reconvenes elsewhere, and the pressure to at least temporarily relocate is higher than what it really was.
What's the short term and long term effects of the capitol relocating to Philadelphia (or New York)?
I think that if the relocation did happen, it would become permanent, even if it originally was supposed to be temporary.
Thoughts?