1. DC History
Wednesday, February 28, 2018

2. Warm-Up: The Battle of Fort Stevens
When the Confederate Army attacked the defenses of the national capital in July 1864, Fort Stevens was severely under-manned.
To aid in the city’s defense, wounded veterans left the hospitals, and government clerks left their offices and made the 2-mile trek up the 7th Street Turnpike to join in the fighting.
Question: Would you have left school to help defend DC against the Confederate attack?

3. DC During Wartime (1861-1865), Part 1

4. Anticipating the Coming of War
Several army companies were ordered to DC before President-elect Lincoln arrived
Many residents (especially Southerners) left the city, boarding up their houses and taking all of their belongings
Among the Southerners who remained in the city, many openly supported the Confederacy
In early 1861, pro-secession Marylanders cut off telegraph and rail service to the capital, preventing army reinforcements from arriving to defend the city against a possible attack from Virginia
What was the atmosphere like in DC at this moment?

5. The Military Presence
The Army of the Potomac was headquartered in Washington, meaning that around 30,000-50,000 soldiers were present in the city at any given time
Along with gear, weapons, livestock, etc.
The presence of the army and its gear greatly increased the pace of life in Washington
The city went from a sleepy Southern town to a bustling metropolis
To help defend the capital, the army built a ring of forts around the perimeter of the district, as well as roads to connect the forts with each other and with the city
(More on these later)

6. The Civil War “Ring Forts”
68 total forts defended the capital from Confederate attack
The most well-known include:
Fort Stanton, Fort Dupont, Fort Bunker Hill, Fort Reno, Fort Totten, Fort Slocum, and Fort Stevens

8. Changes to Daily Life
The city’s population swelled due to the military presence, civilian war industry workers and contractors, and the continuous Congressional session
Pre-war population: 60,000
Wartime population: 140,000
The increased population led to an explosion of bars and quasi-legal gambling establishments
Other entertainments came to DC or became more popular as well: theaters (National and Ford’s), a racetrack in Anacostia, and a circus on Penn Ave.
The stress of war seemed to push people towards more frequent and more rowdy socializing

9. Wartime Stress Overcrowded housing
Economic stress due to wartime inflation
Emotional stress from the constant possibility of a Confederate attack

10. Activity: Paired Writing Assignment
With your partner, study the picture from wartime DC that you were given
Write a one-minute dialogue between two people who were present at the scene when that picture was taken

11. Homework
City of Magnificent Intentions, “Emancipation”