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Philadelphia is called the Birthplace of the Nation.
It’s where America’s Founding Fathers declared independence from Great Britain
and wrote the Constitution of the United States.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
The Founding Fathers gave birth to a new nation
when they wrote the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in the summer
of 1776. They met in a building that became known as Independence Hall. The men
voted to approve the Declaration on July 4th. The town’s citizens built
bonfires, marched through the streets, and rang church bells when the
Declaration of Independence was first read to the public.
By the time of the American Revolution,
Philadelphia had become colonial America’s largest city. One of its most
prominent residents was Benjamin Franklin.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
After the American Revolution ended with
independence for the United States, the country needed to draw up a plan for
its new government. Delegates from 12 states met in Philadelphia in 1787. They
worked for nearly four months to create the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution
expressed the new nation’s basic ideals.
Philadelphia became the nation’s capital in 1790. It
remained the capital until 1800, when the government moved to the newly built
Washington, D.C.
BROTHERLY LOVE
Englishman William Penn founded Philadelphia in 1682,
nearly 100 years before the American Revolution. The name he chose comes from
Greek words meaning “city of brotherly love.” Penn wanted people of all races
and religious groups to live together in freedom and harmony.
Penn laid out Philadelphia where the Delaware River
and the Schuylkill River meet. The deep Delaware River connects the city with
the Atlantic Ocean 100 miles to the east. That connection helped make
Philadelphia a major port.
MONUMENTS TO INDEPENDENCE
In downtown Philadelphia, visitors can see Independence
Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed.
Nearby are the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House, and many colonial buildings.
The Liberty Bell was rung after the first reading of the Declaration of
Independence and on July 4 for many years afterward. According to legend, Betsy
Ross created the first American flag at her Philadelphia home. Elfreth’s Alley
is a narrow street of colonial houses.
MODERN PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia today is the largest city in Pennsylvania.
It is the nation’s fifth largest city. It has many museums and is a center of
culture and education. The city and its suburbs have many colleges and
universities. The University of Pennsylvania was founded in Philadelphia in
1740.
You might like to visit the Franklin Institute
Science Museum. It has hands-on science exhibits for kids and an exhibit that
demonstrates the wide-ranging curiosity of Benjamin Franklin.
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