On August 24, 1814, British forces captured Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812 and set fire to several public buildings, including the Capitol and the White House. President James Madison and other officials had already evacuated the city. The burning was carried out in retaliation for American actions in Canada. A storm later helped extinguish the fires and limited the damage. The attack shocked Americans and underscored the vulnerability of the capital. The city was rebuilt and fortified in the years that followed.
