Tag Archives: Washington D.C.

Topic of interest

Leave a reply

The topic that I would like to look into more deeply is the development of the monuments and memorials in Washington D.C., but particularly the Arlington National Cemetery. The steps I would take to explore this topic would begin with utilizing the Library of Congress and National Archives for primary sources that might provide some detailed information regarding Robert E. Lee and why the Union was able to claim this property from him. Also, I would like to learn how the Union put the land to use and when they decided to use the land as a cemetery. Then I would like to learn about particular traditions that go on at Arlington Nation Cemetery and their origins starting at its establishment up until fifty-years ago. In addition to these traditions, I might try to find audio recordings of speeches taken place there. I might widen my research to the official Arlington National Cemetery website where I could find secondary sources that might be able to provide me with other essential information if I am unable to find them in primary sources. Lastly, I would like to also find newspaper articles from that time discussing the cemetery and see if I can find a general consensus of what the people in D.C. thought about it.

Three topics in the history of D.C.

Leave a reply

The three topics in the history of the District of Columbia that interest me include the development of monuments and memorials, the effect the Civil War had on Washington D.C., and the history of the various types of protests and/or political movements in Washington D.C. The history of the development of monuments and memorials is important to me because each and everyone one of them signify an important part of our American history. They tell us a story of how our country has shaped and took form as well as the sacrifices our service members have made, which is a part of history that every American should know. I would like to learn how they decided for whom to dedicate a monument or memorial as well as who was chosen to design them. The initial steps I would take to learn more about the development of the monuments and memorials is to locate and identify preferably primary sources that list all the different monuments and memorials in D.C. This would allow me to identify the very first recorded monument or memorial in Washington D.C. and move forward from there.

The effect of the Civil War on Washington D.C. is particularly interesting to me because it played a pivotal role in preventing the Confederates from entering the North with its heavy fortification and occupation of the Union Army. I would like to research and learn an array of information such as, but not limiting to the division of the population, to which civilians affiliated themselves with a particular side, the increase or decrease in population, the city before and after, and the war efforts that went on in the city to support the Union and/or Confederates. The initial steps I would take to begin my research would start with the exploration of primary resources such as newspaper articles discussing the war that might provide a sense of the environment of Washington D.C. at the time.

The history of protests and/or political movements in Washington D.C. is particularly interesting to me because there have been so many for various reasons and purposes. This would provide a great insight to the events in the past that people in America were oppose to or wanted to bring a change. I think it would be interesting to learn what these various groups were trying to achieve and if they were successful or unsuccessful. I would like to also learn if they were peaceful or violent and if they were violent then how violent were they. Also, I would like to learn if one protest in the city inspired another protest in a different part of the city. The initial steps I would take to begin my research is would begin with trying to find a primary source with the information regarding the first protest in D.C. I think I would begin with newspaper articles searching for protests dating back as far as it will allow me then once I have found a specific protest I would search the Library of Congress for that event.

iwo jima

Primary Sources

Leave a reply

The Rebel Attack on Washington D.C.

The first primary source I examined was a map of the Confederates plan of attack during the Civil War on Washington D.C. July 11th and July 12th 1864 led by General Jubal Early. From this map I learned that the Confederates planed to come down from the North through Maryland and attack Washington. The map included a key with colors and symbols. The color purple representing the union while a red/pinkish color represented the Confederates and then various symbols that appeared smudged represented Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery Batteries. Lastly, the map provided estimated troop sizes with the Union consisting of 20,000 and the Confederates comprised of 12,000. Ultimately, this attack resulted in the Battle of Fort Stevens.

The source of this map was the “Library of Congress, which appears to have digitized an original copy of the map. The top of the map was title with “The Rebel Attack on Washington D.C. By General Jubal Early. Confederate Army. While the bottom of the map is then certified by saying, “Plan of Rebel Attack on Washington D.C. July 11th and July 12th 1864. Copy of Official Plan made in the Office of Col. Alexander; Engineer of Defenses. While going through the contextualizing process I was able to find other maps offering similar outlines of the attack, however they lacked the credibility. While the map lacked text I attempted to analyze the map through Close- Reading by observing the details of the attack, but through that questions arose to myself thus bringing me into the Corroborating Process. While observing the map I noticed for the most part that the Rebels appeared to be directly north, but imagining that Washington was such a vital part of this war I would have thought there might be some attack from the West to flank the Union and surprise them. While I am happy this did not happen I still would have expected their to be a much more complex attack.

Lincoln Memorial

The second primary source I examined was a newspaper dated May 28, 1922. This paper included an article pertaining to the completion of the Lincoln Memorial twenty years after his assassination. This article provided background information relating to the reason behind the design and location of the memorial. While reading this article I learned it stands “Isolated, Distinguish, and Serene” because it was desired by John Jay who was Lincoln’s biographer and secretary. The location of the memorial we learn is an honor to be on the main axis of the Washington Plan and near the Washington monument. Also, it was said that Lincoln loved the Potomac River, which made it even more suiting to put the memorial there.

The source of this article is “The Washington Times” newspaper on May 28, 1922, the morning edition. When I began the contextualizing process by finding other history behind the Lincoln Memorial I found as much praise as I did in this article. Through close reading I found myself wondering if newspapers further south would regard President Lincoln with as much praise as this one. During the corroborating process I wondered why Lincoln loved the Potomac River so much. Also, I wondered if in some way this article could have been bias being a Washington D.C. newspaper and people in the South feel the same why about Lincoln some fifty-seven years after his assassination.

While working with primary sources I found both sources I examined to have some levels of difficulty to work with. While working with the map I found it difficult to read at first, but this was mostly due to operator error while learning how to zoom in and out on particular parts of the map. While working with the newspaper article I had the same difficulties as I did with the map, but what made this more challenging was reading the print because in some articles it would be very small thus requiring more time for me to zoom in then out then scroll down to the next column.

lincoln