The 9 Capitals of The American Revolution
The American Revolution is most closely associated with Philadelphia, but the Continental Congress moved around quite a bit.
Today, we take a brief look at the travels of Congress during the American Founding and the cities that served (however briefly) as the Capital of the young nation.
Honorable Mentions
Albany, NY - In the early summer of 1754, the Albany Congress met at the behest of Benjamin Franklin to talk about uniting for protection during the French and Indian War.
New York City, NY - Eleven years later, in October of 1765, Delegates from nine colonies met at the Stamp Act Congress and successfully had their grievances addressed.
Philadelphia
When the First Continental Congress met in Autumn of 1774 at Carpenters’ Hall, the Delegates could not have known that Philadelphia would be the main headquarters for the creation of the United States during the ensuing 25 years.
When they returned for the Second Continental Congress, the Founders began meeting at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
It was here that the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Baltimore, Lancaster, York
By December 1776 it appeared that the British would seize Philadelphia, so Congress removed to Baltimore where they met at the Henry Fite House.
After nine weeks it seemed like the coast was clear and the Members returned to Philadelphia. But the coast was not clear and six months later, in September of 1777, the British paraded into the city while Congressmen fled.
First they moved to Lancaster, PA where they met in the courthouse for just one day.
They continued on to York, PA where they spent most of the following year.
Princeton, Annapolis, Trenton
On July 2, 1778, two years after the vote for independence, the Continental Congress triumphantly returned to Philadelphia (though, this was after the British just kinda left) where they remained for half a decade.
In June of 1783, soldiers in the Pennsylvania Line mutinied and marched on Independence Hall. The Pennsylvania Government was absolutely no help, so Congress ran away and took up residence for several months in Princeton, NJ.
Congress then decided to spend the better part of a year meeting in Annapolis, MD (where the Treaty of Paris was ratified) before a brief stint in Trenton, NJ at the end of 1784.
New York
Just two weeks after leaving Trenton, the Congress began meeting in New York City.
It would remain in this place for six years, during which time the Constitutional Convention met (in Philly) and the new Government under the Constitution took over.
It was also here that the final national capital was decided upon...Washington, D.C.
For the ten years that Washington was being designed, however, Congress returned to its original home in Philadelphia.
If you enjoyed this article you might also like these:
The 1776 Burning of New York City
Future Founders - The 11 Most Important Stamp Act Congress Delegates
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