Philadelphians played an essential role in creating and shaping the American Revolution. Irvin posits that the Philadelphians did not play the role willingly but were forced by Congress to accept the newly constructed public ceremonies, rituals, holidays, and symbols. Congress had to make sure that the new constructions had to be accepted by the ‘people out of doors.’ Philadelphians, however, did not accept all new creations made by the Congress, they rejected some, debated, confirmed and tailored some of the symbols so that they could fit the views of Philadelphians of a new nation (Irvin, 2005). When laws were introduced, and Philadelphians were against them, they would boycott them, for instance, the Townshend Acts was boycotted by the Philadelphia merchants since they did not support their operations.
From 1774 and 1783, the Philadelphians went to the streets to make their political feelings recognized. Philadelphians did not elect the Continental Congress, and felt that Jefferson’s decision affected internal politics, causing a collapse to the traditional political and legal institutions. The street meetings were a way of Philadelphians to expressing that they were not in support of the political decisions Congress were making (Irvin, 2005). The citizens were also using the opportunity to make sure that Congress would listen to Philadelphians, fearing that their political stand would not be taken seriously since they had not elected Congress.
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Philadelphians had a larger role to play in the Revolution than other big-city residents considering that Philadelphia was the capital of the Revolution activities. It is where the First and Second Continental Congresses gathered. Philadelphia was a place secured by Congress after the declaration of independence from Great Britain, making it a region of developed political and military actions (Irvin, 2005). The residents in the city thus took place more in American histories, such as the American Revolution.
Reference
Irvin, B. H. (2005). The Streets of Philadelphia: Crowds, Congress, and the Political Culture of Revolution, 1774- 1783. The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 129, No. 1 (Jan. 2005), pp. 7- 44.
