ABSTRACT
PHILADELPHIA Founded in 1682 by William Penn, an English Quaker from Chester, England, was a “holy experiment” based on Quaker principles of religious tolerance. Looked upon as the financial and political center of the young nation, the city was the mother of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence in 1776, the Articles of Confederation in 1777, the U.S. Constitution in 1787, and the Bill of Rights in 1791. It was also the nation’s capital from 1790 to 1800. Since that time, Philadelphia has been referred to as the “Birthplace of the Nation,” the “Cradle of Liberty,” and most popularly, the “City of Brotherly Love.” Culturally, it has shared with other cities a reputation for ethnic neighborhoods and active street life. Its folklife also has been distinguished from others, particularly as it is situated in the megalopolis between New York and Baltimore-Washington, D.C., by traditions bearing the city name such as the Philadelphia pretzel and the Philadelphia Mummers Parade; in speech it also is known for its recognizable accent. Its population, numbering almost five million, has made it the fifth largest city in the United States and fifty-second in the world.
