WI all of Washington DC had been burned down by the British in the War of 1812

What if the British, in the war of 1812, had decided not only to burn down the US Capitol and White House, but ALL of the still developing Washington DC. The war would still come to a end as it did, with the Treaty of Ghent and the Battle of New Orleans, but what would America do, with it's capital city destroyed? Would it try to rebuild it. Or would it make another city (like New York or Philadelphia) it's capital city.
 
Three things.

First of all, a clarification. This was meant for a retaliation for the American burning of York's legislative house. That's all, and that's why only government buildings were burned. It's conceivable that some British commander might want to punish America further, or perhaps some undisciplined British soldiers take it upon themselves to light a few extra fires. Unlikely, but plausible.

Second, it was a HUGE violation of war principles to burn down civilian buildings. This is going to be a big hit to British/American relations. In the long term, they'll get over it, but it might have a bit of an effect in the years after.

Third, to answer your question about what'll happen to the capital... they'll rebuild. Maybe a temporary capital in Philadelphia for a couple of years, but that's all. Remember, in 1814, Washington was still a young city. Construction only started in the 1790s. It's not like there was a modern city with huge infrastructure that would take decades to repair and rebuild... especially since it's not like the Brits will completely erase every building and piece of infrastructure.
 
Three things.

First of all, a clarification. This was meant for a retaliation for the American burning of York's legislative house. That's all, and that's why only government buildings were burned. It's conceivable that some British commander might want to punish America further, or perhaps some undisciplined British soldiers take it upon themselves to light a few extra fires. Unlikely, but plausible.

Second, it was a HUGE violation of war principles to burn down civilian buildings. This is going to be a big hit to British/American relations. In the long term, they'll get over it, but it might have a bit of an effect in the years after.

Third, to answer your question about what'll happen to the capital... they'll rebuild. Maybe a temporary capital in Philadelphia for a couple of years, but that's all. Remember, in 1814, Washington was still a young city. Construction only started in the 1790s. It's not like there was a modern city with huge infrastructure that would take decades to repair and rebuild... especially since it's not like the Brits will completely erase every building and piece of infrastructure.

That's right. Washington D.C. did not become a true capital until the time of the ACW, when it experienced a significant increase in population. In the 1820s visitors from Europe wrote, that you might get lost in Washington, not in the way as it might happen in London or Paris, but rather like being lost in the wilderness of the american frontier. Most of the streets planned by L'Enfant were only marked and not paved yet, and only few had buildings lining them. Several presidents of the US even went hunting in the area around the White House in the early 19th century.
 
How long would it take for them to burn down the whole city? A great rainstorm put out the fires the first evening; I don't think the British would bother sticking around to burn the rest of the now-waterlogged city.
 
How long would it take for them to burn down the whole city? A great rainstorm put out the fires the first evening; I don't think the British would bother sticking around to burn the rest of the now-waterlogged city.

with tornadoes too from what I remember in my reading. That said, if the weather is more favorable for arson than it might all burn down. But as Alexandria (across the river) had more people in it at the time, it isn't going to be a big determiner of events long term.
 
with tornadoes too from what I remember in my reading. That said, if the weather is more favorable for arson than it might all burn down. But as Alexandria (across the river) had more people in it at the time, it isn't going to be a big determiner of events long term.

And actually, Alexandria was in DC too at the time. If everything on the northern shore of the Potomac is burnt, we just might see the capitol moving right across the river... which might have interesting consequences when the Civil War rolls around, if butterflies aren't sufficient to keep Virginia in the Union anyway.
 
And actually, Alexandria was in DC too at the time. If everything on the northern shore of the Potomac is burnt, we just might see the capitol moving right across the river... which might have interesting consequences when the Civil War rolls around, if butterflies aren't sufficient to keep Virginia in the Union anyway.

interesting point... I also recall reading somewhere that the Royal Navy made the city of Alexandria pay ransom to not be torched (the dockyards etc), and the RN took a number of prizes from the city docks.
 
Top