National Mall Quotes



One of the grandest compromises of the new nation of America was the placement of the National Capitol in what is now Washington DC. Virginia and Maryland seemed to be the big winners so far as access was concerned.


Jefferson used the name because in Latin in meant “city on a hill” which had great meaning for the original colonial settlers. Remember that in the original plan for Washington DC, the Capitol was the center of the city in the sense that it is where the 4 quadrants in which the city was divided, meet.


Most people associate the phrase with the 1963 march in which Randolph was one of the organizers and leaders. However, he first used the term in 1941 threatening President Roosevelt with a protest march in the middle of WWII unless Roosevelt ordered the discrimination in defense industries and the military to cease. FDR and his administration did much to improve the situation but came far short of equality. Randolph organized the March on Washington Movement in 1941 and in negotiations throughout the war, this was his trump card. Progress was made but slowly. Randolph maneuvered a fine line as he wanted to do nothing to hurt the war effort. Some severely criticized Randolph’s tactics which were quite effective. Finally in 1963, 22 years after Randolph had first threatened such a march, it finally took place, leading to the Civil Rights Act of the following year. See {625657} for a Southern racist description of Ranolph’s techniques and his victories.