Washington, D.C., is a city, but some people would like it to be a state.
In 1774, a group of representatives from the colonies needed a place to meet. They met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia was the first capital. When George Washington became president in 1789, New York City was the capital.
The northern and southern states wanted a capital that was not too far north and not too far south. They chose a spot in the between Maryland and Virginia. They named it after President George Washington. America’s founders were concerned that people living in Washington, D.C. might influence Congress. So, the residents of the city did not have representation in the Senate or the House of Representatives. This is still true today, although people who live in Washington, D.C., can vote for the President.
Why do some believe that Washington, D.C., should be a state? Washington, D.C. has more residents than the entire state of Vermont or Wyoming. But the city has no representatives in Congress. People who live in D.C. pay taxes to the government and serve in the military. They believe there should be “no taxation without representation.” D.C. residents have voted in favor of making Washington, D.C. a state. If Washington, D.C., were a state, it would have two senators and one member of the House of Representatives.
In 2021, the House of Representatives voted to make Washington, D.C., a state. But some people don’t think it’s a good idea to make Washington, D.C., a state. They say that the Congress should not have the power to add states. Instead, they believe, the Constitution needs to be amended to add another state.
What Do You Think? Do you think Washington, D.C., should be a state? Why or why not?
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