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I think what we owe to Philadelphia and Boston is our ideals, our work ethic, maybe even a huge pat of our cultural identity.
Our desire for men to be free and have liberty, and be treated equal.
Our respect for the rule of law, I think stems from England and having lived in many other parts of the world, I really appreciate that firm respect Americans have for their laws.
I think of Philadelphia and Boston when I think of how America became that way.
True that, defining a country and religion was and still is the core of building great nations. William Penns revolution was grand and for consistency those three are hard to beat.
If we look at every period of our nation's history as opposed to focusing solely on our colonial years, the 2 cities that remain constantly important and prominent on our national psyche since 1800 have been Washington DC and New York.
Pretty much the entire expansion of our country took place out of Washington. Most states were ratified into the union from DC. California, Texas, The Louisana Purchase etc, all of that, took place in Washington DC.
Slavery was abolished in DC, wars were declared in DC, presidents are sworn into office in DC and so on.
If we look at every period of our nation's history as opposed to focusing solely on our colonial years, the 2 cities that remain constantly important and prominent on our national psyche since 1800 have been Washington DC and New York.
Pretty much the entire expansion of our country took place out of Washington. Most states were ratified into the union from DC. California, Texas, The Louisana Purchase etc, all of that, took place in Washington DC.
Slavery was abolished in DC, wars were declared in DC, presidents are sworn into office in DC and so on.
Not to diminishh DC but seriously DC as a city did not come into its own until much later in history. As late as the late 1800s politicians fled DC as quickly as they could. DC was considered almost a backwater for nearly half of the US History. From an economic standpoint DC took 2 centuries to catch these other cities (among others). To say it was only colonial histories for these cities is just flat out wrong. These were the cities that drove the world Industrial revolution, helped us win wars with their output built the railroads etc. I find this view (purely colonial) to be trivializing the impact of these cities on US history and their significance well beyond just the founding of this country. Also DC did not become an economic power until about 40 years ago. Philadelphia was the 3rd largest city in the US up until 60 years ago.
These cities drove education, culture, industry, finance, innovation, medicine for the country for well over 150 years after the inception of this nation and continue to be at the forefront today. On their body of of work throughout history and staying power to me the answer is clearly yes on the OP criteria. It seems people have an extremly short memory when viewing these places and their significance to much of what makes America today, well beyond colonial history.
Really, 1610-2010 is the period in question. DC and Chicago weren't even part of the picture in the first half.
1610-1660: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston
1660-1710: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston
1710-1760: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
1760-1810: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
1810-1860: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago
1860-1910: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington
1910-1960: New York, Washington, Chicago
1960-2010: New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago
New York = 8 influential periods
Boston = 6
Philadelphia =6
Baltimore = 5
Chicago = 4
Washington = 3
Charleston = 2
Los Angeles = 1
The country was incubated and developed by the old 4.
The country was refined by the new 3.
New York obviously is the mainstay. Baltimore is the forgotten town, along with Charleston.
If we look at every period of our nation's history as opposed to focusing solely on our colonial years, the 2 cities that remain constantly important and prominent on our national psyche since 1800 have been Washington DC and New York.
Pretty much the entire expansion of our country took place out of Washington. Most states were ratified into the union from DC. California, Texas, The Louisana Purchase etc, all of that, took place in Washington DC.
Slavery was abolished in DC, wars were declared in DC, presidents are sworn into office in DC and so on.
But DC has been influential simply by being the nation's capitol. How could it not be?
Really, 1610-2010 is the period in question. DC and Chicago weren't even part of the picture in the first half.
1610-1660: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston
1660-1710: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston
1710-1760: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
1760-1810: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
1810-1860: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago
1860-1910: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington
1910-1960: New York, Washington, Chicago
1960-2010: New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago
New York = 8 influential periods
Boston = 6
Philadelphia =6
Baltimore = 5
Chicago = 4
Washington = 3
Charleston = 2
Los Angeles = 1
The country was incubated and developed by the old 4.
The country was refined by the new 3.
New York obviously is the mainstay. Baltimore is the forgotten town, along with Charleston.
Where did you get this from? Is this your own private opinion?
Anyway for the first few years I would make some changes. Charleston was not settled until 1670. I would also say Charleston continued to be influential until at least the 1770s. After all the British attacked the city twice so they at least thought Charleston was important! Philadelphia and Baltimore are not as old as your first line either.
1610-1660: Jamestown, Plymouth, Boston, New York, New Haven
1660-1710: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, Hartford
1710-1760: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, Hartford
1760-1810: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
1810-1860: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC
1860-1910: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington DC
1910-1960: New York, Washington, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit
1960-2010: New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, Detroit
But DC has been influential simply by being the nation's capitol. How could it not be?
Actually it was during WWII that Washington exploded with activity and population and became a significant player. Before then it's reputation was as a sleepy backwater that virtually shut down when congress was not in session
did Boston drop off the face of the earth in 1910??
what happened??
and what are all these based on? Population numbers???
And you guys add Charleston but no New Orleans? The once richest town on the mainland??
I mostly just copied Joe's list and made some quick changes.
You are right, I totally forgot about New Orleans but in any case NO was a foreign controlled city and did not join the USA until the early 1800s. Boston did not off the face of the earth in 1910, other cities just grew bigger.
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