Question

Which two states gave up land to create the nation's capital, Washington, D.C.?

A) Pennsylvania and New York
B) New York and Maryland
C) Virginia and Maryland
D) South Carolina and Virginia

Answer 1

Answer:

C) Virginia and Maryland

Explanation:

Washington, D.C. was formed through land ceded by the states of Maryland and Virginia. In 1847, the area that had been ceded by Virginia was returned, nearly all of which is now Arlington County. Construction of Washington began in 1792 and opened in 1800, the same year it became the American capital. Washington was named after the first President of the United States, George Washington, while the term District of Columbia derives from a former United States poetic name, Columbia.