History Philadelphia

an 18th century map of philadelphia, ca. 1752

before europeans arrived, philadelphia area home lenape (delaware) indians in village of shackamaxon. lenape native american tribe , first nations band government. called delaware indians, , historical territory along delaware river watershed, western long island, , lower hudson valley. lenape pushed out of delaware homeland during 18th century expanding european colonies, exacerbated losses intertribal conflicts. lenape communities weakened newly introduced diseases, smallpox, , violent conflict europeans. iroquois people fought lenape. surviving lenape moved west upper ohio river basin. american revolutionary war , united states independence pushed them further west. in 1860s, united states government sent lenape remaining in eastern united states indian territory (present-day oklahoma , surrounding territory) under indian removal policy. in 21st century, lenape reside in oklahoma, communities living in wisconsin, ontario (canada) , traditional homelands.

europeans came delaware valley in 17th century, first settlements founded dutch, in 1623 built fort nassau on delaware river opposite schuylkill river in brooklawn, new jersey. dutch considered entire delaware river valley part of new netherland colony. in 1638, swedish settlers led renegade dutch established colony of new sweden @ fort christina (present-day wilmington, delaware) , spread out in valley. in 1644, new sweden supported susquehannocks in military defeat of english colony of maryland. in 1648, dutch built fort beversreede on west bank of delaware, south of schuylkill near present-day eastwick neighborhood, reassert dominion on area. swedes responded building fort nya korsholm, or new korsholm, after town in finland swedish majority. in 1655, dutch military campaign led new netherland director-general peter stuyvesant took control of swedish colony, ending claim independence. swedish , finnish settlers continued have own militia, religion, , court, , enjoy substantial autonomy under dutch. english conquered new netherland colony in 1664, though situation did not change substantially until 1682 when area included in william penn s charter pennsylvania.

in 1681, in partial repayment of debt, charles ii of england granted penn charter become pennsylvania colony. despite royal charter, penn bought land local lenape on terms native americans , ensure peace colony. penn made treaty of friendship lenape chief tammany under elm tree @ shackamaxon, in city s fishtown neighborhood. penn named city philadelphia, greek brotherly love (from philos, love or friendship , , adelphos, brother ). quaker, penn had experienced religious persecution , wanted colony place worship freely. tolerance, far more afforded other colonies, led better relations local native tribes , fostered philadelphia s rapid growth america s important city.

benjamin franklin, 1777

penn planned city on delaware river serve port , place government. hoping philadelphia become more english rural town instead of city, penn laid out roads on grid plan keep houses , businesses spread far apart, areas gardens , orchards. city s inhabitants did not follow penn s plans, however, crowded delaware river port, , subdivided , resold lots. before penn left philadelphia last time, issued charter of 1701 establishing city. though poor @ first, city became important trading center tolerable living conditions 1750s. benjamin franklin, leading citizen, helped improve city services , founded new ones, such fire protection, library, , 1 of american colonies first hospitals.

a number of philosophical societies formed, centers of city s intellectual life: philadelphia society promoting agriculture (1785), pennsylvania society encouragement of manufactures , useful arts (1787), academy of natural sciences (1812), , franklin institute (1824). these societies developed , financed new industries, attracting skilled , knowledgeable immigrants europe.

philadelphia s importance , central location in colonies made natural center america s revolutionaries. 1750s, philadelphia had surpassed boston become largest city , busiest port in british america, , second in british empire after london. city hosted first continental congress (1774) before revolutionary war; second continental congress (1775–76), signed united states declaration of independence, during war; , constitutional convention (1787) after war. several battles fought in , near philadelphia well.

president s house - presidential mansion of george washington , john adams, 1790–1800

philadelphia served temporary capital of united states while new capital under construction in district of columbia 1790 1800. in 1793, largest yellow fever epidemic in u.s. history killed approximately 4,000 5,000 people in philadelphia, or 10% of city s population.

the state capital moved lancaster in 1799, harrisburg in 1812, while federal government moved washington, d.c. in 1800 upon completion of white house , u.s. capitol building. city remained young nation s largest until late 18th century, being both financial , cultural center america. in 1816, city s free black community founded african methodist episcopal church (ame), first independent black denomination in country, , first black episcopal church. free black community established many schools children, of quakers. new york city surpassed philadelphia in population 1790. large-scale construction projects new roads, canals, , railroads made philadelphia first major industrial city in united states.

throughout 19th century, philadelphia had variety of industries , businesses, largest being textiles. major corporations in 19th , 20th centuries included baldwin locomotive works, william cramp & sons shipbuilding company, , pennsylvania railroad. industry, along u.s. centennial, celebrated in 1876 centennial exposition, first official world s fair in united states.

immigrants, ireland , germany, settled in philadelphia , surrounding districts. these immigrants largely responsible first general strike in north america in 1835, in workers in city won ten-hour workday. city destination thousands of irish immigrants fleeing great famine in 1840s; housing them developed south of south street , later occupied succeeding immigrants. established network of catholic churches , schools , dominated catholic clergy decades. anti-irish, anti-catholic nativist riots erupted in philadelphia in 1844. rise in population of surrounding districts helped lead act of consolidation of 1854, extended city limits 2 square miles (5.2 km) of center city 134 square miles (350 km) of philadelphia county. in latter half of century, immigrants russia, eastern europe , italy, , african americans southern u.s. settled in city.

philadelphia represented washington grays in american civil war. african-american population of philadelphia increased 31,699 219,559 between 1880 , 1930. twentieth-century black newcomers part of great migration out of rural south northern , midwestern industrial cities.

by 20th century, philadelphia had become known corrupt , contented , entrenched republican political machine , complacent population. first major reform came in 1917 when outrage on election-year murder of police officer led shrinking of city council 2 houses one. in july 1919, philadelphia 1 of more 36 industrial cities nationally suffer race riot of ethnic whites against blacks during red summer, in post-world war unrest, recent immigrants competed blacks jobs. in 1920s, public flouting of prohibition laws, organized crime, mob violence, , police involvement in illegal activities led appointment of brig. gen. smedley butler of u.s. marine corps director of public safety, political pressure prevented long-term success in fighting crime , corruption.

in 1940, non-hispanic whites constituted 86.8% of city s population. population peaked @ more 2 million residents in 1950, began decline restructuring of industry, led loss of many middle-class union jobs. in addition, suburbanization had enticed many of more affluent residents outlying railroad commuting towns , newer housing. resulting reduction in philadelphia s tax base , resources of local government caused city struggle through long period of adjustment, approaching bankruptcy late 1980s. revitalization , gentrification of neighborhoods began in late 1970s , continues 21st century, of development occurring in center city , university city neighborhoods. after many of old manufacturers , businesses left philadelphia or shut down, city started attracting service businesses , began market more aggressively tourist destination. glass-and-granite skyscrapers built in center city beginning in 1980s. historic areas such old city , society hill renovated during reformist mayoral era of 1950s through 1980s, making areas among desirable neighborhoods in center city. these developments have begun reversal of city s population decline between 1950 , 2000 during lost one-quarter of residents. city began experiencing growth in population in 2007, has continued gradual yearly increases present.

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