The United States of America was street tested in Philly. From the chaos of the American Revolution, to its role as the national capital of the early Republic, Philadelphia was a messy, testing ground for seeing how the ideas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were lived by people on the street.



The city was a place of divided loyalties and social divisions that played out in public. Streets were the stage for political theater, where mainstream and dissenting voices vied for control during war and its aftermath. And all of this turmoil took place against a backdrop of recurring public health crises.



Check out the companion block to find out more, get a full bibliography, and see some period images FoundinPhiladelphia.com.



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