In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America

Episode 3 Overview: Independence

Step into the turbulent years that reshaped a city and a nation.

Episode 3, Independence (1763–1790), explores how escalating frontier conflict, political upheaval, and growing resistance to British rule pushed Philadelphia to the center of America’s founding moment. From the Paxton Boys’ march on Philadelphia to the rising influence of voices like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson, the episode traces how public dissent evolved into a bold call for independence.

As tensions spill into the streets, representatives gather in Philadelphia to chart a new future, culminating in the reading of the Declaration of Independence and the revolutionary struggle that follows.

This screening invites audiences to reflect on the city’s pivotal role in shaping democratic ideals while considering the complexities, conflicts, and competing visions that defined the birth of the United States.

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