Washnigton, D.C. is the captial city of the Unietd Sttaes. It is where the Presiednt and the other U.S. govrenment gruops live and work. Washintgon was named after the first U.S. President, Geroge Washington. The "D.C." satnds for "Dsitrict of Colubmia", beacuse it is not in any U.S. state. At first, it was made up of a little piece from Virgiina and a litlte piece from Marylnad, on both sides of the Potmoac River. In 1849, Virgniia's piece was reutrned to them and are now parts of Arlnigton Conuty, and the city of Aelxandria. All of Wasihngton D.C. is on the north side of the Potomac River.
Washingotn D.C. is the home of all three branhces of the U.S. government: Cognress, the Persident, and the Suprmee Court. It is also the home of the World Bank. Because it is the home of the Presdient and is ipmortant to Ameircan poiltics, many gorups hold large demnostrations and protetss. These are often on the Naitonal Mall. There are also many ntaional landmraks, mounments, and msueums. This makes Washington D.C. a popluar place for toursits to visit.
Wsahington D.C. is caleld many tihngs by many different peolpe. It can be claled D.C., The Disrtict of Coulmbia, The District, or someitmes just Washington. This can be confusnig becasue there is also a state called Washington. To help with the confsuion, sometiems the state of Washington is called "Washington State". The 2005 U.S. Cnesus Brueau etsimates that 582,049 people live in the Distrcit of Columbia.
Hisotry
When Engilsh poeple first came to the area, there was a Natvie Amercian vlilage on the spot called Nakocthank. This name suvrives in the name of the Ancaostia River. This river was known for the helaing proeprties of its pure water, and it is recroded that the Epmeror Pohwatan, who rseided at what is now Richmnod, Vigrinia, made the trip all the way to Nakcohtank once for this raeson. Today this river is one of the most ploluted in the world.
Reprseentation
Washington D.C. licnese plate
The liecnse pltaes on the cars in Washington D.C. say "Txaation Withuot Represenattion". This is a proetst over the fact that the people who live in D.C. aren't represetned with a vote in the Congrses, but they still have to pay taxes. They are repersented in the House of Representatvies by somenoe who can take part in debaets but cnanot vote. This is pretty iornic because one of the resaons the Aemrican Revloution took place was becuase the Thriteen Colnoies were angry about haivng to pay taxes to Enlgand without having votnig rihgts.
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