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One of the most important events in colonial U.S. history was the French and Indian War. Most Americans don't know that it was a world war between the U.K. and the French, known as the Seven Years' War. Where did this war start? In western PA in a battle for control of the headwaters of the Ohio River, and George Washington often was charged with instigating the conflict, and certainly played a prominent role in its beginnings. The Fort Necessity National Battlefield just east of Pittsburgh marks the site of George Washington's only military surrender. The excellent Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh well tells the history of Pittsburgh and George Washington's involvement.
The French & Indian War resulted in the expulsion of the French from North America, eliminating the compelling need of the American colonies for protection from the British Navy and military. The Seven Years' War created dire financial need in Britain, resulting in efforts to tax the American colonies "without representation." The festering wound of losing its North American colonies certainly influenced the critical and decisive action of the French to enter another world war against the British and provide critical financial aid and weaponry, substantial troops, and even fleets in a decisively successful effort to defeat the British in the American Revolutionary War.
Most of the federal government's formative years took place with Philadelphia as the national capital. The important Whiskey Rebellion was largely a Pennsylvania affair. It set a precedent for a federal military response against rebellion that was most evident in the Civil War.
Andrew Carnegie introduced large scale economies of scale and vertical integration to American industry. Importantly, he was the great American champion of philanthropy which has had a profound impact on the U.S., with his example followed by many wealthy Americans.
During the Civil War, Gettysburg was the largest and most critical battle. A Union defeat there easily could have resulted in a Confederate victory in the war by opening Washington, DC, to capture. Absent remarkable Union field leadership (George Greene, Gouverneur Warren, Strong Vincent, and Joshua Chamberlain) during the second day of the battle, Confederate flank attacks at Little Round Table and Culp's Hill might have been successful.
Cambridge, MA, and MIT also was the site of a technology revolution that arguably was even more important in winning WWII for the Allies than the efforts at Los Alamos. See posts 62 and 64 here for one of the most fascinating stories in American history involving perhaps the most precious gift ever bestowed on one nation by another.
One of the most important events in colonial U.S. history was the French and Indian War. Most Americans don't know that it was a world war between the U.K. and the French, known as the Seven Years' War. Where did this war start? In western PA in a battle for control of the headwaters of the Ohio River, and George Washington often was charged with instigating the conflict, and certainly played a prominent role in its beginnings. The Fort Necessity National Battlefield just east of Pittsburgh marks the site of George Washington's only military surrender. The excellent Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh well tells the history of Pittsburgh and George Washington's involvement.
The French & Indian War resulted in the expulsion of the French from North America, eliminating the compelling need of the American colonies for protection from the British Navy and military. The Seven Years' War created dire financial need in Britain, resulting in efforts to tax the American colonies "without representation." The festering wound of losing its North American colonies certainly influenced the critical and decisive action of the French to enter another world war against the British and provide critical financial aid and weaponry, substantial troops, and even fleets in a decisively successful effort to defeat the British in the American Revolutionary War.
Most of the federal government's formative years took place with Philadelphia as the national capital. The important Whiskey Rebellion was largely a Pennsylvania affair. It set a precedent for a federal military response against rebellion that was most evident in the Civil War.
Andrew Carnegie introduced large scale economies of scale and vertical integration to American industry. Importantly, he was the great American champion of philanthropy which has had a profound impact on the U.S., with his example followed by many wealthy Americans.
During the Civil War, Gettysburg was the largest and most critical battle. A Union defeat there easily could have resulted in a Confederate victory in the war by opening Washington, DC, to capture. Absent remarkable Union field leadership (George Greene, Gouverneur Warren, Strong Vincent, and Joshua Chamberlain) during the second day of the battle, Confederate flank attacks at Little Round Table and Culp's Hill might have been successful.
Cambridge, MA, and MIT also was the site of a technology revolution that arguably was even more important in winning WWII for the Allies than the efforts at Los Alamos. See posts 62 and 64 here for one of the most fascinating stories in American history involving perhaps the most precious gift ever bestowed on one nation by another.
I forgot to note that Valley Forge, just outside Pennsylvania, is where the Continental Army was organized into an effective fighting force able to go head-to-head against British regulars and defeat them. It was at Valley Forge that the U.S. Army truly was born, all amid immense hardships. The U.S. Army was created in the mold of not the British Army, but of the Prussian Army, the world's most formidable of the time. Reportedly, like the Prussian Army, the Continentals had a rate of fire 25 percent faster than their British counterparts.
After the subsequent Battle of Monmouth, British commanders repeatedly decline battle against the main Continental Army. A battalion of Continental Army infantry detached to the Southern theater routed the 71st Highlanders of the British Army in the decisive Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina.
Both states are known for their history and much of their image is based on it.
What state is factually more historic in your opinion?
Based on the following criteria:
PreColonial:
Colonial:
American Democracy:
American Revolution:
Civil War:
Industrial Revolution:
Roaring 20s:
# of 1sts:
Historical Assets:
Most historic Landmarks:
Historic Architecture:
Have fun!
PreColonial: Pennsylvania - the feisty Susquehannock Indians who for years fought off against the Delaware to the East, the Iroquois to the North in New York and various Indian nations down South, would probably win this for Pennsylvania alone. Plus the Delaware continued to play a role in Pennsylvania all the way to the American Revolution.
Colonial: Massachusetts - not only was Massachusetts generally settled earlier but a large part of Pennsylvania was still not settled until after the Revolution.
American Democracy: TIE - Both states have been fighting for freedom and liberty even back in colonial times
American Revolution: TIE - Massachusetts really began the Revolution and had some colorful historic events (such as Paul Revere's ride) but Pennsylvania is right up there with the events at Independence Hall.
Civil War: PENNSYLVANIA
Industrial Revolution: PENNSYLVANIA. Although, Massachusetts was the leader very early, Pennsylvania soon dwarfed her.
Roaring 20s: NEW YORK!
# of 1sts:
Historical Assets: TIE? I was going to say Massachusetts for all its quaint history spread throughout the state but I then remembered places like Gettysburg, Steamtown, the Starruca Viaduct, the Horseshoe curve and even Hershey. This is very close.
Most historic Landmarks: Massachusetts. For National Historic Landmarks, MA is #2 on the list with 189 and PA is #3 on the list with 168 (although btw not all historic landmarks have NHL designation). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...marks_by_state
Historic Architecture: Massachusetts - Pennsylvania has probably some of the best rowhouses I have ever seen but I cannot get all those Massachusetts colonial houses, white churches and village greens out of my head.
Most of the federal government's formative years took place with Philadelphia as the national capital. The important Whiskey Rebellion was largely a Pennsylvania affair. It set a precedent for a federal military response against rebellion that was most evident in the Civil War.
Wasn't NYC the capital for much of those years? They left because in those days SEPTA was better than the MTA.
Wasn't NYC the capital for much of those years? They left because in those days SEPTA was better than the MTA.
Actually, New York was the capital for only two or three years, right around the time Washington was inaugurated. The capital moved back to Philadelphia in 1790 and remained there until it moved to its new permanent home in 1800.
City leaders here thought they could sway the new government to reconsider its decision to locate the capital on the Potomac between Maryland and Virginia by building a new house for the President. The move didn't work. The site of the house now contains a memorial to it that features prominently the slaves Washington kept.
This is very close, but I'll try to make the case for Massachusetts.
Pennsylvania is passive historic while Massachusetts is active historic. What I mean is, Pennsylvania has been a moderate colony/state in America but Massachusetts has been radical. Radicals make history while moderates go with the flow.
For example, Philadelphia only saw the signing of the Declaration of Independence because Massachusetts started the war. The Continental Congress located in Philly simply because it was in the middle of the colonies. The city itself was actually mostly Loyalist.
And in the Civil War, Gettysburg was fought in Pennsylvania again mostly because of geography. The war itself was started by radicals in other states (abolitionists in Massachusetts and slaveholders in the Deep South).
One event that Pennsylvania did help start was the creation of the Constitution, which was partly started because of the Whiskey Rebellion. But, again, Philly was chosen as the site of the convention because of its central location. When it came to actually writing the constitution, other states (especially Virginia) led the way.
Once the US government under the constitution started, Virginia and Massachusetts (radical states) had a monopoly on the first presidents.
For the Industrial Revolution, I'd say it's a tie. For historical assets/landmarks, Pennsylvania probably has more since it's a bigger state, but I'd bet Massachusetts has more per capita. I'd give it to Massachusetts.
For architecture, I'd again give it to Massachusetts. The Georgian and Federal architecture that Massachusetts' mostly cosmopolitan seaport towns helped lead the way in, later influenced the course of American architecture. McKim, Mead, and White studied the colonial architecture of Massachusetts. H. H. Richardson was influenced most by his experiences in Boston. You can argue that Louis Sullivan was influenced by Philly, but I still connect him more to Chicago.
And the Cape Cod house (the Cape) can be found across America.
Actually, New York was the capital for only two or three years, right around the time Washington was inaugurated. The capital moved back to Philadelphia in 1790 and remained there until it moved to its new permanent home in 1800.
City leaders here thought they could sway the new government to reconsider its decision to locate the capital on the Potomac between Maryland and Virginia by building a new house for the President. The move didn't work. The site of the house now contains a memorial to it that features prominently the slaves Washington kept.
The Constitutional government didn't begin until March 4, 1789, and the Constitution wasn't ratified by all 13 states until May 29, 1790.
<<Even after the Constitution’s ratification, the U.S. did not begin to look and function remotely like it does today until several years later. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document, and the Bill of Rights was not ratified to become part of the Constitution until the end of the following year. Moreover, the capital was not set until July 16, 1790, almost a year and half after the general elections took place.>>
On December 6, 1790, the capital moved from NYC to Philadelphia. So NYC was the effective capital of the U.S. Constitutional government from April 30, 1790, to December 6, 1790, for a little more than 7 months.
On May 14, 1800, in the first year of the 19th century, the U.S. capital moved to Washington, DC, with Congress convening for the first time in the U.S. Capitol Building.
The U.S. Supreme Court convened for the first time on Feb. 2, 1790, but the court's first decision wasn't rendered until 1791, after the court had been relocated to Philadelphia.
Thinking about it, the presence of the federal government for almost a decade during its formative years in Philadelphia powerfully tips any balance of historical importance towards Pennsylvania IMO.
One event that Pennsylvania did help start was the creation of the Constitution, which was partly started because of the Whiskey Rebellion. But, again, Philly was chosen as the site of the convention because of its central location. When it came to actually writing the constitution, other states (especially Virginia) led the way.
The Whiskey Rebellion culminated in 1794, several years after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the relocation of the federal government to Philadelphia. The Whiskey Rebellion wasn't a reason that the U.S. Constitution was created and implemented, but actually a consequence of the federal powers of taxation enabled by the new Constitution.
The Whiskey Rebellion culminated in 1794, several years after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the relocation of the federal government to Philadelphia. The Whiskey Rebellion wasn't a reason that the U.S. Constitution was created and implemented, but actually a consequence of the federal powers of taxation enabled by the new Constitution.
Sheas rebellion in Massachusetts was the impetuous bro great the Constitution
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Important considerations
