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The Constitution of the United States gave Congress the power
to govern Washington. But in 1802, Congress established a local
government, including a mayor and a city council, to help run the
city. The people of Washington were given the right to elect
council members in 1802 and the mayor in 1820, but they were not
allowed to vote for members of Congress or the President.
The predictions that Washington would become an important
commercial and industrial center did not come true. The city could
not compete economically with such long-established cities as
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Charleston.
Lacking economic growth, Washington remained a small city. By
the 1840’s, it had only about 50,000 people, and only a small part
of its present area was built up. As a result, in 1846, Congress
returned to Virginia the land that the state had earlier given to the
federal government.
Growth and development. Washington's main periods of
growth have been times of crisis, such as wars and depressions.
During such times, the role of the federal government has been
greatly expanded to help meet the crises. Large numbers of people
moved to the city to handle the new jobs that resulted.
The Civil War (1861-1865) was the first crisis that caused
Washington to grow. During the war, the city's population soared
from about 60,000 to 120,000. The Union stationed thousands of
troops in Washington to protect the city from Confederate attacks.
Large numbers of people flocked to the city to help direct the
Union's war effort and to establish businesses. In addition,
thousands of slaves who had been freed during the war moved to
the city. The enormous population growth led to a severe housing
shortage. In addition, the city's streets, sewer and water systems,
and other public facilities could not handle the increased
population.
Congress began a major rebuilding and expansion program in
Washington after the war. The program solved the city's physical
problems. But it indirectly led to an end of the people's right to
choose their government leaders. Congress believed that a
reorganization of Washington's local government was necessary
for a successful rebuilding program. At first, in 1871, it established
a territorial government that included a governor appointed by the
President, and an elected assembly. Then, in 1874, Congress
established a local government made up of three commissioners