How many commissioners were appointed by the U.S. Congress to select a suitable area for the capital of America?

The correct answer is 3.
Under the Residence Act of 1790, which authorized the creation of a permanent capital for the United States, Congress gave President George Washington the power to appoint three commissioners to oversee the selection, surveying, and planning... Read More

1 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE MCQS

How many commissioners were appointed by the U.S. Congress to select a suitable area for the capital of America?

  • 5
  • 7
  • 2
  • 3
Correct Answer: D. 3

Detailed Explanation

The correct answer is 3.


Under the Residence Act of 1790, which authorized the creation of a permanent capital for the United States, Congress gave President George Washington the power to appoint three commissioners to oversee the selection, surveying, and planning of the federal district.


The Role of the Three Commissioners:


In January 1791, President Washington appointed Thomas Johnson, David Stuart, and Daniel Carroll as the three commissioners. Their specific duties included:



  • Surveying the Boundary: They worked closely with major figures like Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker to survey the original 10-mile-square boundary lines.

  • Naming the City: In September 1791, the three commissioners officially decided to name the federal district the Territory of Columbia and the federal city the City of Washington.

  • Building Oversight: They were responsible for managing the construction of the original public buildings, including the Capitol Building and the White House (then known as the Executive Mansion).


The Board of Commissioners:


The commission functioned as the primary local governing board of the federal territory until 1802, when Congress abolished the board and replaced it with a superintendent and a locally elected city council.


Comparison of the Options:



  • 5: Incorrect; while some later architectural or planning boards had five members, the original founding commission was smaller.

  • 7: Incorrect; a seven-member board was not used for the initial site selection.

  • 2: Incorrect; an odd number was purposely selected to ensure there wouldn't be a tie vote during important decision-making processes.

  • 3: The correct answer; three prominent individuals were chosen to manage the massive undertaking of building a capital city from scratch.

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