The Burning of Washington: Key Events and Impacts

Why did the British decide to attack Washington D.C. in 1814?

• To gain control of American trade routes

• To establish a British colony in America

• To retaliate for damage done to Canadian cities

• To capture the U.S. President

What was the outcome of the Battle of Bladensburg?

• The battle ended in a stalemate

• The American forces were quickly defeated

• The British forces were repelled

• The American forces won decisively

Which famous artifact did First Lady Dolly Madison save from the White House?

• The Declaration of Independence

• A map of the original 13 colonies

• A portrait of George Washington

• The Liberty Bell

What did the U.S. Navy do to prevent their supplies from falling into British hands?

• They hid the supplies in underground bunkers

• They set the Navy Yard on fire

• They transported the supplies to Canada

• They surrendered the supplies to the British

Which government building was spared by the British during the burning of Washington?

• The Patent Office

• The Treasury

• The Capitol

• The White House

What natural event helped to extinguish the fires in Washington D.C.?

• A heavy snowfall

• An earthquake

• A flood

• A large storm

What was the impact of the storm on private buildings in Washington D.C.?

• They were looted by the British

• They were damaged by a tornado

• They were flooded by heavy rains

• They were completely spared

Where did Congress meet after the burning of Washington?

• In a temporary tent

• In the White House

• In the Patent Office

• In a nearby church

How was the Library of Congress replenished after the burning?

• By donations from European countries

• By purchasing Thomas Jefferson's private library

• By printing new copies of lost books

• By borrowing books from state libraries

What did the burning of Washington demonstrate about the young American republic?

• It was incapable of defending its capital

• It was too fragile to survive a major war

• It needed to form stronger alliances with European powers

• It could endure war and disaster without losing its democratic principles