Powel House became the United States' presidential residence following the Second Mexican War. When the Confederacy won the War of Secession, Washington became a less secure capital city. This was demonstrated most forcefully in 1881, when the city was shelled by the Confederacy in the course of the Second Mexican War. President James G. Blaine evacuated the government to Philadelphia. Powel House became the new Executive Mansion, and every president of the United States would reside there from then on. The White House remained the de jure presidential residence, but was used by the President only for ceremonial occasions such as Inauguration Day proceedings and state funerals.