Paths to Independence: 1765-1787

Paths to Independence: 1765-1787

In 1763, following the French and Indian War, most American colonists cherished their place in the British Empire and expressed loyalty to King George III. Yet by 1776, many of those same colonists were ready to declare independence, denouncing the king as a “Royal Brute.” Paths to Independence explores how such a dramatic transformation in political allegiance and public sentiment occurred in just over a decade.

Featuring rare original documents from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s collections, including letters, pamphlets, broadsides, and drafts of the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States, the display traces the complex path to American independence. It highlights not only the perspectives of well-known figures such as Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Wilson, but also the experiences and evolving views of ordinary Philadelphians.