The above photo is from the game Fallout 3. You can find them and many more at https://viewfromravenrock.blogspot.com/.

Human history is filled with examples of the destruction of the capital cities of massive empires, both in the Old World (both West and East) and the New World. The ruins of those cities are with us even today. Even when the great capitals have been rebuilt and are currently megalopoli.

Consider those not rebuilt: Babylon, Ninevah, Thebes, Susa (Elam, Persia), Balasegun (China), Qusqu (Cusco – Incan in Peru). And then consider those who were destroyed, even died, and were rebuilt. Sometimes multiple times: Jerusalem, Rome, Constantinople (Istambul), Berlin, Toronto, Washington (DC).

Yes, Toronto and Washington, DC.

Indeed, their tales are intertwined.

Washington, DC is not just an imperial capital destroyed by enemies and rebuilt, but the only American capital city destroyed by outsiders – invading foreign forces. (We’ll explain the caveats later.)

In the War of 1812, which lasted two years, the US Congress declared war against the British Empire for a second time (1776 was the first time). The war started out as a just one: the Royal Navy was impressing American sailors and seizing American ships trading with the French (Napoleon’s empire). And financing and encouraging wars by AmerInd tribal coalitions against the US. But Congress and the White House quickly turned the fight into a war of aggression: Upper Canada (today’s Ontario) was invaded with the intent of seizing it (and all of today’s Canada) from the Brits.

Following a victorious battle against British troops, US forces occupied York (later renamed Toronto). Then, in revenge for the killing of their victorious commander, General Zebulon Pike, the troops looted and burned the town.

A year later, with Napoleon’s hash temporarily settled in France and the Low Countries, the Brits invaded the US to force an end to the war – by the capitulation of the FedGov to Whitehall. It was to be a two-pronged invasion up the Chesapeake Bay. The Baltimore attack failed (see Fort McHenry, Star-Spangled Banner, etc.) The Washington DC attack was successful.

British troops occupied DC. Madison and Congress fled. And in revenge for York, the British burned Washington: the Capitol, the White House, and other offices and businesses. (They spared residences on order of their commanders.) It took peace and several years to rebuild the seat of government. Indeed, giving what had been the “Presidential Mansion” its modern name, the White House. The burnt-out shell of the Capitol was not rebuilt until 1819; some of the rubble cleared remained dumped helter-skelter in what became a park in DC.

But the States have had other capital cities and capitols destroyed. However, all these other examples of destruction were not the result of foreign invaders or attackers. They were done by other Americans.

No, not some version of Occupy X or even of the evil Trumpista insurrectionists of 6 January 2021. No, indeed. Nor by any “insurrections.” The cities and the capitol building were destroyed by US (Federal) troops on the orders of the White House and Congress. Specifically by Honest Abe and the Radical Republicans in the rump Congress of 1863-65. Cities like Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and Richmond, Virginia. (Atlanta was destroyed by Sherman’s forces, but it was not the capital at the time.) Many other cities in the South were destroyed by Federal forces – some have never been rebuilt. CSA troops destroyed only one city: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania during one of the two foolish invasions of the North.

Of course, Americans have gone on to destroy many other cities and capitals – or at least aid in their destruction. All on the orders of Congress and the Executive Branch. Among them can be included Berlin, the capital of the Deutschesreich (German Empire). This is perhaps the most egregious attack on civilians and private property, as far as a capital city is concerned. But there are many others, if not fully destroyed, certainly not due to a lack of trying. And others occupied and looted or damaged severely. Ciudad Mexico, Havana, Tokyo, Baghdad, Hanoi, and Pyongyang are all on this list. The roll of non-capital cities is very long: Vicksburg, Mississippi; Hampton, Virginia; Dresden, Germany; and Hiroshima and Nagasaki are perhaps the most significant.

In some cases, civilians were allowed to leave and even carry a few possessions with them. But not always. Most (but not all, by any means) Americans are good people. But we are all subject to temptations and government often provides those temptations to men to do evil things. And the opportunities and incitement to do so.

One more reason to avoid mandatory human government.