The Burning of Washington, DC, 1814

Activities: Guided Reading/Creative Learners

The Burning of Washington, D.C. 1814

The burning of Washington, D.C., took place during the War of 1812. British troops began to march on Washington on August 24, 1814. They were angry the Americans had cut their supply lines in Canada. General Robert Ross led the British troops and wanted them to destroy everything. The troops set fire to many houses and buildings. They burned the buildings where the Senate and House of Representatives were located. They also burned the inside of the Library of Congress, but the outside survived because of its strong walls. They also burned the United States Treasury and Washington Navy Yard.

Later, Admiral George Cockburn led more British troops to Washington. He went to the National Intelligencer newspaper building. He wanted to burn it because Cockburn hated the newspaper. The paper had criticized him and given him the nickname “Ruffian.” However, there were women in the area, and Cockburn did not burn the building. Instead, Cockburn ordered the soldiers to take the building apart one brick at a time. He also ordered the soldiers to remove the letter “C” from the type to make sure the newspaper never wrote about him or used his name again.

The British then went down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. James Madison was not there; but his wife, Dolley Madison, was. She was one of the only people remaining in the city. Many officials had already left, including Dolley’s bodyguard. Dolley was hard at work. She knew the British were coming to burn the White House. She began to take important material with her. These included many papers. She also took a large portrait of George Washington that Gilbert Stuart had painted. Dolley left just before the British came. The

British entered the White House, and ate a dinner that had been left in the dining room. They stole items from the White House before burning the building. They added fuel to the fires to make sure the building burned for a long time.

The fire continued into the next day before a hurricane came through the city. A tornado also helped to put out the fires. The British then returned to their ships, which had been damaged. After the storm, President Madison led other officials back to Washington. They saw the city in ruins and wanted to seek revenge against the British.

Name: ______Date: ______

The Burning of Washington, D.C.

Discussion Questions:

1. When did the burning of Washington, D.C., take place?

2. What was the name of the newspaper Admiral George Cockburn hated?

3. How did Cockburn have his troops destroy the newspaper’s building?

4. Who painted the portrait of George Washington that Dolley Madison saved?

5. What put out the fires in Washington, D.C.?