Washington DC's retrocession retrocession

Hello ATS. I want to bring a topic to ATS about Washington DC. DC is a district with land ceded from Maryland and Virginia in 1790. Virginia took its land back in 1847. Dc which was once 100 square miles looked like this:



after Virginia took its land back, it now looks like what we have today:



There are several reasons why this happened; reasons that no longer apply in today's world. They are:

Alexandria had gone into economic decline because of neglect of the area by Congress.

A 1791 amendment to the Residence Act specifically prohibited the "erection of the public buildings otherwise than on the Maryland side of the
river Potomac.

At the time, Alexandria was a major market in the slave trade, but rumors circulated that abolitionists in Congress were attempting to end slavery
in the nation's capital, which would have also seriously harmed the area's economy.

There was also an active abolitionist movement in Virginia. If Alexandria were returned to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the move would have
added two additional pro-slavery representatives to the Virginia General Assembly.

Alexandria is no longer neglected by congress, Alexandria is a thriving economy, Slavery has long been abolished, and Women have equal rights. Therefore since the original reasons for Virginia lands to be given back to Virginia are null and void in current times, isn't it time to give those lands back to DC? Give me your opinions ATS. What say you?

en.wikipedia.org...

a reply to: lostbook

Why? What purpose would it serve to give the lands back? They certainly aren't needed to run the Gov.

There is no need for gov agencies to be centered there anymore and many have since moved out of DC anyway.

I see a day when DC will be nothing but Ceremonial for the most part.

originally posted by: Identified
a reply to: lostbook

Why? What purpose would it serve to give the lands back? They certainly aren't needed to run the Gov.

There is no need for gov agencies to be centered there anymore and many have since moved out of DC anyway.

I see a day when DC will be nothing but Ceremonial for the most part.

Possibly. I just want to hear from the ATS community. I rthink the land(s) should be returned since none of the reasons for leaving apply anymore.

The current trends of draining the swamp reducing the size of federal government, does DC really need this land at this time? With the security net around DC it will probably include parts of this land of contention. In terms of DC taking full control of it, it is between DC and Virgina to sort out.

originally posted by: kwakakev
The current trends of draining the swamp reducing the size of federal government, does DC really need this land at this time? With the security net around DC it will probably include parts of this land of contention. In terms of DC taking full control of it, it is between DC and Virgina to sort out.

I assume there's a strategic point to keeping DC in one side of a river. It's easier to defend one side vs defending two sides.

a reply to: lostbook

Heaps of other logistic issues around rivers like emergency response, garbage collection, local day to day management of stuff. Rivers make a nice clear boundary for managers to work with.

The main threat the US military has is the US military.

originally posted by: kwakakev
a reply to: lostbook

Heaps of other logistic issues around rivers like emergency response, garbage collection, local day to day management of stuff. Rivers make a nice clear boundary for managers to work with.

The main threat the US military has is the US military.

Hm.m.m.m....Explain

We don't need a bigger D.C., do we? I see no reason for this. I'll vote no. They do almost nothing with what they have.

a reply to: lostbook

Which part, the management of local jurisdictions or how suicide takes more US soldiers than any other threat?

a reply to: lostbook

Is there some movement to get Virginia to return the land?
Or is this just you?

originally posted by: Sillyolme
a reply to: lostbook

Is there some movement to get Virginia to return the land?
Or is this just you?

Just me, Silly.