Final answer:
The White House reconstruction took about three years following its burning in the War of 1812, and President James Monroe moved into the rebuilt residence in 1817.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the British set fire to the White House, it took approximately three years to rebuild it. The attack on Washington, D.C., led by Major General Robert Ross, resulted in the intentional burning of only public buildings, sparing private properties.
The fires completely gutted both the Capitol Building and the White House, with their sandstone exteriors surviving but blackened. This attack marked a key moment in the War of 1812, demonstrating the vulnerability of the American capital and leading to the eventual restoration of these significant structures.
The White House's reconstruction included an effort to restore the grandeur of the presidential mansion, which, once complete, welcomed President James Monroe in 1817.