In 1665 an English fleet moved in to take New Amsterdam, the capital of the Dutch North American colony. The governor called the citizens to arms but they refused. For a generation the governors of the New Netherlands had denied the citizens constitutional rights that were guaranteed by the Dutch Republic. There was a conflict of interest. The governor was also the director of the Dutch West India Company that had de facto control of the colony. Apathy and resentment had weakened the city and with it the colony fell in English hands. For more on this click here.
The citizens of the District of Columbia also have their constitutional rights denied and, to their credit, do not appear to have become apathetic. But, that may just be a matter of time.