Washington D.C., Ottawa, Canada, and Canberra, Australia

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Washington D.C. was chosen as the capital because it was a neutral location between the Northern and Southern states. Ottawa was chosen because it was a compromise between French and English Canada. Canberra was chosen because it was a compromise between the cities of Sydney and Melbourne. All three capitals were built to be compromise capitals between influential and competing regions.

Option A is not accurate because although the buildings in the capital cities may demonstrate the country's strength, that is not the main purpose of their construction.

Option C is not accurate because although the countries may wish to control all the land within their borders, building a forward capital is not the way to achieve that objective.

Option D is partly accurate, but it does not explain the reason for the capitals' placement in the geographic centers of their countries.