The White House and War

The United States emerged as a newly independent country after defeating Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War. The United States then began to establish itself as a nation by ratifying the Constitution, founding a capital city in Washington, D.C., and building the White House. Over the course of its 220-year history, the White House has served as the backdrop for presidential leadership and decision-making during several wars. Explore the ways in which the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II transformed how the White House operates as a home, office, and stage.