Moving Capital to Washington

The video explores the hidden history of racial inequality in the U.S., focusing on Washington, D.C.'s role as a hub of slavery. It discusses the irony of D.C. being the capital of liberty, the decision to make it the capital, and the influence of slavery on this choice. The narrative highlights the legacy of slavery in D.C., including the story of Philip Reed, an enslaved man who cast the Statue of Freedom.

What is the main reason the story of Washington, D.C.'s connection to slavery is often hidden?

• It is a recent discovery.

• It is an uncomfortable truth.

• It is not relevant to modern times.

• It was never documented.

What does the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol Dome symbolize?

• The freedom of the American people

• The wealth of the nation

• The power of the government

• The history of the capital

Why did Southern leaders want the capital to be located in the South?

• To promote agriculture

• To ensure the continuation of slave trading

• To avoid Northern influence

• To be closer to the ocean

What was a significant factor in choosing Washington, D.C. over Philadelphia as the capital?

• Better climate

• More land available

• Pennsylvania's laws on slavery

• Closer proximity to Virginia

What was the legal implication for slaves brought into Pennsylvania?

• They had to be registered with the state.

• They automatically became free after six months.

• They could be sold after six months.

• They were immediately freed.

What was the significance of the Potomac site for the founding fathers?

• It was less populated.

• It had better trade routes.

• It was more accommodating to slaveholding.

• It was a strategic military location.

What does the park that blooms springtime cherry blossoms in D.C. symbolize?

• A site of political meetings

• A place of peace

• A former slave market

• A historical battlefield

What is the significance of Statuary Hall in the context of slavery?

• It was built by slaves.

• It contains columns touched by slaves.

• It was a meeting place for abolitionists.

• It was a site of slave auctions.

Who was Philip Reed in the context of the U.S. Capitol?

• A founding father

• An enslaved man who cast the Statue of Freedom

• A famous architect

• A politician who opposed slavery

What is ironic about the Statue of Freedom?

• It was made of gold.

• It was cast by an enslaved man.

• It was never completed.

• It was originally a different statue.