Worksheets and No Prep Teaching Resources Reading Comprehension Worksheets A New Nation (1776-1830)

The First Capitals of the United States A New Nation (1776-1830)

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The First Capitals of the United States
Print The First Capitals of the United States Reading Comprehension with Sixth Grade Work

Print The First Capitals of the United States Reading Comprehension


Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 6 to 8
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	8.06

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		mansion, controversy, oath, original, courthouse, present-day, belonging, compromise, newly, inaugural, government, secretary, public, remain, location, possible
	content words:		Revolutionary War, George Washington, Mount Vernon, Continental Congress, United States, Mary Washington, Finally Washington, New York City, New York, City Hall

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The First Capitals of the United States By Sharon Fabian

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¹     Each year, crowds of tourists arrive in Washington, D.C. They come to see the places where our government conducts its business. They come to learn about the history of our government. One thing that they might learn there is that the capital of our country wasn't always in its current location.
 
²     After the Revolutionary War, George Washington was living at Mount Vernon, near present-day Washington, D.C. One day, the secretary of the Continental Congress arrived at Mount Vernon with a letter. The letter said that Washington had been chosen to be the first president of the United States. Right away, Washington knew that he would have to pack up and move.
 
³     He left as soon as possible, making a stop in Fredericksburg to visit his mother, Mary Washington. Since his mother was elderly and in poor health, it was a sad visit. It would turn out to be Washington's last visit with his mother.
 
⁴     The trip from Mount Vernon to the new nation's capital took about a week. Along the way, people came out to see their first president pass by and to cheer him on. Public dinners were held in his honor in cities along the way. Finally Washington arrived at the capital city, New York City, New York. His wife, Martha, and their family would arrive the next month.
 
⁵     On April 30, 1789, the inauguration ceremony took place in New York City's old City Hall. Crowds of people attended. They saw George Washington, with his hair powdered and dressed in a brown suit with white silk stockings, take the oath of office. After taking the oath of office, Washington moved into the senate chambers to give his first inaugural address to Congress. In his address, he encouraged Congress to pass the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

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A New Nation
(1776-1830)

A New Nation (1776-1830)

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United States

United States

American Government         Black History and Blacks in U.S. History         Children in History         Government Careers         Hispanic Heritage         How Can I Help?

Immigration         National Parks and Monuments         Native Americans         Presidents of the United States         Women's History

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United States History

A Nation Divided (1840-1861)         A New Nation (1776-1830)         After the Civil War (1865-1870)         American Revolution         Cold War (1947-1991)         Colonial America (1492-1776)         Lewis and Clark (1804-1806)         Pearl Harbor         Spanish American War (1898)         The 1890's         The 1900's         The 1910's         The 1920's         The 1930's

The 1940's         The 1950's         The 1960's         The 1970's         The 1980's         The 1990's         The 2000's         The Civil War (1861-1865)         The Great Depression (1929-1945)         The United States Grows (1865-1900)         The War of 1812         Wild, Wild West         World War I (1914-1918)         World War II

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50 States

Fifty States Theme Unit

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Document Based Activities

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