The opening piece to C-SPAN’s special, The Capitol, offers an overview of the purposes and meanings of the Capitol building from its inception in the late 18th century to today. Also, watch a clip from the second night of the series focused on the function and history of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Discussion Questions

1. Consider the time in American history when the Capitol was built. What were the primary concerns of the nation at that time? How is the Capitol an outgrowth of those concerns?
2. What takes place in the Capitol building? How long has it served this function? How is the building suited for its function? How did the growth of the building reflect the growth of the country?
3. Describe the location of the Capitol building.
4. How is the Capitol a working building? How is it symbolic? How does knowing that slaves helped to build the Capitol add to the building’s meaning?
5. What story of American history do you observe in the Capitol?
6. Why is George Washington so often represented in the Capitol? How did he hope the building would be perceived by other nations? By Americans?
7. What did the curator mean when she said: “It’s America’s fate to be an ideology.” If this is true, what is that ideology, as seen in the Capitol?
8. Public access to the Capitol has decreased over time, and in particular since September 11, 2001. Is that a concern? Why or why not? What is the impact of seeing the Capitol, either in person, or in video like this?