[[File:war-of-1812-01-us-capitol-1814.jpeg|thumb|left|Figure 1.The Capitol as it appeared during the War of 1812. ]]__NOTOC__
Early in the history of the United State, the Capitol Building, or United States Capitol, was authorized and built in the newly formed capital of the US in Washington D.C. It was to serve as the seat of the legislative branch of the US government from 1800, when the legislative branch was moved from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. The site of Washington was seen as a compromise between Northern and Southern states which had disputed where the seat of government for the United States should be.
==Construction and Early History==
The history of the Capitol building begins with the passage of the Residence Act of 1790, which mandated a formal seat for the US federal government. Northern states would have preferred a site such as New York or Philadelphia as the likeliest place for the seat of the US government; however, after the federal government agreed to take on Revolutionary War debt from northern states, the northern states agreed to Washington D.C. becoming the newly built seat of government. The US government gave the transition period for the legislative branch to be transferred to D.C. within 10 years, with this period lasting between 1790-1800 and Philadelphia serving as the temporary home of the branch. The French-American engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant designed the new capital city of Washington D.C., where he planned for 'Congress House,' as the Capitol was envisioned to be called, to be located on its present site on Jenkin's Hill (now called Capitol Hill). A broad avenue would connect the President's House (White House) with Congress House. Early on, the founders of the United States used ancient Rome as their example. Thomas Jefferson, in particular, saw the Temple of Jupiter in Rome as an example of what the future Capitol would look like, with the building envisioned as the shining temple on a hill that would guide the republic, mainly ruled by an elite. In fact, it was Thomas Jefferson who eventually pushed to change the name from Congress House to the Capitol after the hill in which the Temple of Jupiter stood, which was one of seven hills of ancient Rome.<ref>For more on the early history of the Capitol, see: Brown, G., Bushong, W., 2007. <i>Glenn Brown’s History of the United States Capitol</i>, Annotated ed. in commemoration of the Bicentennial of the United States Capitol. ed. For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O, Washington, D.C.</ref>
The history of After a competition held on what the Capitol building begins with the passage of the Residence Act of 1790would look like, which mandated a formal seat for where the US federal government. Norther states winner would have preferred a site such as New York or Philadelphia as get $500, the likeliest place for architect, William Thornton, inspired by the seat of Louvre and the US government; however, after Paris Pantheon was chosen as the federal government agreed main design. A rival to take on Revolutionary War debt from northern statesThornton, Stephen Hallet, a French architect, wanted a grander building and was very critical of Thornton's suggestion. Eventually, the northern states agreed two architect's designs were integrated to Washington D.C. becoming form much of the newly built seat current core of governmentthe Capitol and initial building. The US government gave Later, Thomas Ustick Walter and August Schoenborn would also have great influence on the transition period for current building by designing the legislative branch to be transferred to D.Cnorth wing and later dome respectively. 10 yearsOn September 18, with this period lasting between 1790-18001793, with Philadelphia serving as President George Washington laid the temporary home foundation of the branch. The French-American engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant designed the new capital city of Washington D.C.Captiol, where with a ceremony taking place in which he planned for the 'Congress Houseand eight other Freemasons dressed in their masonic clothing. By 1800,' as the Capitol building was envisioned ready to be calledused for its designed purpose. Interestingly, to be located on early in its present site on Jenkinhistory the Capitol was also used as a church for Sunday services, with the speaker's Hillpodium serving as the pulpit. A broad avenue would connect Although the Senate wing was not finished, on November 17, 1800 both the President's House and Senate were in session in the Capitol for the first time. By 1812, both wings of the Capitol were mostly completed (White HouseFigure 1) with Congress House. Early <ref>For more on, the founders design of the United State's used ancient Rome as their exampleCapitol, see: Allen, W.C. Thomas Jefferson, in particularUSA, saw the Temple of Jupiter in Rome as an example Architect of what the future Congress House would look likeCapitol, 2011. In fact, Thomas Jefferson had pushed to change then name from Congress House to <i>History of the United States Capitol after the hill in which the Temple : a chronicle of Jupiter stooddesign, construction, which was one and politics</i>. University Press of seven hills of ancient Romethe Pacific, Honolulu.</ref>
After a competition held ==Later History==[[File:LincolnInauguration1861a.jpeg|thumb|left|Figure 2. The Capitol and its current dome being built during the 1861 inauguration of Abraham Lincoln.]]The first time the Capitol was breached was on what August 24, 1814, when British forces entered Washington and burned parts of the city and Capitol . No breach would look likeoccur again until the events of January 6th, where 2021. Within a year of the winner would get $500first breach and partial burning, the architect architect William ThorntonCapitol was being reconstructed, inspired led by two military engineers (George Bomford and Joseph Gardner Swift). During the reconstruction of the building, Congress continued to meet but in another building called the Old Brick Capitol that was demolished in 1929. The Capitol was reused for its legislative purpose continuously since 1819. By 1824, the original dome was also completed (Figure 2). In 1850, the building was significantly expanded to include the Louvre new House and the Paris Pantheon Senate wings. The original dome was replaced with a new cast-iron dome that was chosen as much larger than the main original low, timber-framed design(Figure 2). Thomas U. A rival Walter designed the dome to Thorntonbe 100 feet, Stephen Hallet, a French architect, wanted a grander building and with inspiration come from Les Invalides in Paris. A significant part of the construction in the 1850s was carried out by slave labor. The Statue of Freedom was very critical placed on top of Thornton's suggestionthe dome in 1863, with the dome completed that year. EventuallyThe rotunda is perhaps the oldest and most distinct feature inside the building, which still encompasses the two architect1800 original smaller center. The grounds around the Capitol were extensively redesigned using Fredrick Olmstead's landscape designs were integrated between 1874 to 1892 and work also continued around the Mall using his designs. He also recommended new terrace extensions to form much the north, west, and south sides of the core Capitol that have since been completed. New additions occurred to the East Front of the Capitol. Laterin 1904, Thomas Ustick Walter as the large dome and August Schoenborn would also have great influence its weight put extra strain on the current building by designing . In 1958, the north wing and dome respectivelyEast Portico was extended. On September 18, 1793, President George Washington laid Corinthian columns from the foundation original building were also replaced as part of the Captiolthis larger project, with the original columns now used as part of a ceremony taking place large display in which he and eight other Freemasons dressed in their masonic clothingthe National Arboretum. By 1800Since 1960, the Capitol building was ready to be used for its designed purposehas been declared as an official National Historical Landmark in the United States. InterestinglyIn 1993, on September 18, 1993, early in its history the Capitol 's bicentennial was also used as celebrated by re-enacting the masonic ceremony conducted by Washington and others, with Senator Strom Thurmond, a church for Sunday servicesFreemason, with leading the speaker's podium serving as the pulpitceremony. Although the Senate wing was not finishedUntil 1981, on November 17, 1800 both the House and Senate were in session in East Front of the Capitol was used for Presidential inauguration; the first timeWest Front has been used since 1981 for this event. By 1812, both wings <ref>For more on the history and architecture of the Capitol were completefrom 1814 to the 1990s, see: https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/buildings-grounds/capitol-building/history</ref>
==Later Recent Historyand Key Events==On December 2, 2008, the United States Capitol Visitor Center opened to the public, the same date the dome finished in 1863, with the building dedicated to tell the history of the site and act as a starting point for tours of the Capitol. The center was built underground on the east side of the Capitol in order to keep the main view of the Capitol Building and Grounds clear of obstruction, with the building itself being about 580,000 square feet. From 2012-2016, extensive restoration has taken place on the building. Roughly $61 million had been appropriated for external renovation, while over $20 million had already been spent on work around the dome. From 2014-2016, extensive scaffolding covered the dome. The work was also pushed quickly so that the 2017 inauguration of the President would not have the scaffolding as part of the view. The work was finished just prior to the 2016 election, with working finishing in September of that year.<ref>For more architectural history, see: https://www.aoc.gov/what-we-do/projects</ref>
The first time In addition to inaugurations that have taken place in Washington D.C. since 1801, the Capitol was breached was has been part of key historical events. Every year, the building serves as a key site for Independence Day celebrations and fireworks as well as National Memorial Day concerts. In Martin Luther King's famous March on Washington in August 241963, 1814the Capitol was famously not used as the site of the events and speech since the goal of the march was not to make members of Congress feel under attack or siege but rather that they were part of the process of creating a more equal society. Many other protests, when British forces entered Washington including against the Vietnam War and burned parts of Iraq war, were held near the city Capitol and along the National Mall. There have been various violent events within the Capitolover the years. No breach would occur again until In 1835, there was an attempted assassination of Andrew Jackson. In 1856, senator Preston Brooks viciously beat Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner with a cane over the events issue of January 6thslavery, 2021which Brooks had strongly supported. Within There was a year small explosion caused by dynamite in 1915 on the 4th of July weekend in 1915 when a former Harvard University professor Erich Muenter had exploded the first breach and partial burningdynamite due to Congress funding Great Britain while the United States was officially neutral in World War I. In 1954, Puerto Rican nationalists entered the Capitol was House gallery where they began firing indiscriminately with their handguns before being reconstructed, led by two military engineers (George Bomford stopped and Joseph Gardner Swift)arrested. During reconstruction Five members of the buildingcongress were hurt. In 1971 and 1983, Congress continued to meet but in another building called the Old Brick Capitol two bombings that was demolished in 1929caused minor damage went off.
==Recent History==Outside of senators, presidents, and other key or major government officials who have been lain in state at the Capitol, officers Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson were also given that honor in 1998 after a shooting incident at the Capitol building, with Chestnut being the first African American to be given that honor. Gibson was killed in an exchange of gunfire, while Chestnut was killed in the initial entrance of the gunman. Rosa Parks become the second African American to be given that honor. In 2013, a woman was killed breaching the grounds of the Capitol. In 2018, Billy Graham became the fourth private citizen without having held a government role to have the honor of lying in state. Pope Francis, in 2015, became the first Pope to given a joint address to Congress. On January 6th, 2021 the Capitol was breached for the second time in its history, with four rioters and one police officer killed in the resulting melee.<ref>For a list of key events at the Capitol, see: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2021/01/united-states-capitol-building-turbulent-history-bombings-assassination-attempts-violence/</ref>
==Summary==
Few buildings have symbolized United States government and democratic ideals as the Capitol building. The building has seen a fair number of events over the last two hundred years that include controversy or dealt with difficult events, such as the use of slaves to build a large part of the present building. Given the important symbolic and actual value the building has for many in the United States, and by an extension to many democratic countries, the building and site continue to attract protestors and marches, including the events that turned violent in 2021.
==References==
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