The correct answer is D) the British burned many public buildings including the White House.
<em>What happened when the British arrived in Washington D.C. was that the British burned many public buildings including the White House.</em>
In 1814, the British Army defeated American forces at the battle of Bladensburg, Maryland. After the battle, the British marched to the United States capital where the British burned many public buildings including the White House.
During the War of 1812, the British troops defeated the American troops on on August 24, 1814. After the battled, the British moved to Washington D.C, and headed to the White House under the orders of General Robert Ross, during the march, the British Army burned many public buildings such as the Capitol Building and the President Mansion, what today is the White House.