In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America

Episode 4 Overview: Common Ground (1790–1838)

Episode 4 of In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America examines Philadelphia as the young nation’s capital, where the ideals of self-government are tested in everyday life. As political divisions deepen and crises like the Yellow Fever epidemic strain the city, free Black Philadelphians build institutions and assert their rights, with leaders like Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and James Forten shaping a growing movement for equality and reform.

The episode then follows the rise of abolitionism and public education, as Black and white reformers work together to expand opportunity and challenge injustice. Yet these efforts provoke fierce resistance, culminating in mob violence, the destruction of Pennsylvania Hall, and the stripping of Black men’s voting rights.

In a city striving to create shared civic space, this program asks a central question: how can common ground be sustained when democracy itself remains unequal?

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