Philadelphia

Philadelphia was the second part of the historical section of my tour, and it was great! Historical Philly is fascinating. When it was founded by William Penn, it was to be a "holy experiment", a refuge granting religious freedom and self-government, fair trials and humane sentencing. It soon was British America's biggest, most diverse and most cosmopolitan city. And so it is not surprising that political leaders gathered here, too. In fact, for ten years, before Washington, D.C., was built, it was the capital of the US. That means you find many interesting historical sights, from the site of the former presidential house (where later, among other things, a public restroom stood...), to Independence Hall, Congress Hall, and Declaration House.

Independence Hall.

Independence Hall saw many of the most important events in the founding of the United States. When the mutual actions and reactions between Britain and America led to escalation and the "Intolerable Acts", it was here that the two Continental Congresses were held, first aiming only at Americans' full rights as English citizens, but after the outbreak of war and further failed attempts of negotiation with Britain also debating whether to declare independence from Britain, and then debating, adopting and signing the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.

The Syng Inkstand, signing
constitutions and declarations
since 1776.

After the Revolutionary War had ended, the Constitutional Convention also discussed, drafted and signed the Constitution of the United States of America in this hall. After the nation's capital had moved to Washington, D.C., the building was used for municipal proceedings, including fugitive slave trials. In that, the building also illustrates the contradictions of the early United States, proclaiming and denying freedom at the same time.

Liberty Bell.

The old State House Bell was originally located in the steeple of Independence Hall's tower. Ordered from Britain in 1751, it cracked and was recast. A hundred years later it cracked again. This time the crack was widened as a form of repair, and this widening resulted in the famous image. When later the crack grew again, it wasn't rung anymore. But only when the anti-slavery movement used it's image for their literature, it gained it's famous name of the "Liberty Bell." Many other groups also used the bell as a symbol. After the civil war it was paraded around the country to unite the people again. Later the civil rights movement also used it as a symbol for their struggle.

Congress Hall, site of the nation's
first peaceful transfer of
executive power.

Again my first glance imaginings and actual historical events are pretty far apart. I always have to remind myself, like I had to in Boston, what kind of place America was in those days. A small, vulnerable colony of England, beset by internal disputes, inexperienced, improvised, and no match for the dominating world power of the day. Basically, when they signed the Declaration of Independence, they signed their own death warrants for revolution against the king. Apparently, there was utter silence in the room when they did it. I wonder whether I would have mustered the courage to sign that document. It was great to see these places first hand.



Here's where it happened.