Philadelphia hosted the Continental Congress when it adopted the Declaration of Independence, the document honored by America250.
In 1776, Philadelphia was the largest city in British North America and an important center of commerce, printing, and political debate. The Second Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. There, delegates debated and adopted the Declaration of Independence.
Philadelphia remained central to the early United States after independence. The Constitutional Convention met there in 1787, and the city served as the national capital from 1790 until 1800. The federal government later moved to Washington, D.C.
Boston is closely associated with the American Revolution because of events such as the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, but it was not the city where Congress adopted the Declaration. New York City and Washington, D.C., also became major national centers at different times.