Introduction

Independence Hall (English) Independence Hall) - a building on Independence Square in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, known as the place where the Declaration of Independence was discussed, agreed upon and signed in 1776; the place where the US Constitution was signed. From 1775 to 1783 the building was used as the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress. Currently, the building is part of the US Historical Park, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

1. Construction history

Designed in Georgian style by Edmund Woolley and Andrew Hamilton, the building was built by Woolley between 1732 and 1753. The building was originally intended for the government of Pennsylvania.

Independence Hall is built of red brick. The highest point of the building rises 41 meters above the ground. Two more buildings adjoin the building: the old city council building from the east and Congress Hall from the west.

1.1. Liberty Bell

The bell tower of Independence Hall was the site where the Liberty Bell was originally located. At present, the bell tower houses the Century Bell. Centennial Bell), created in 1876 on the centenary of the declaration of independence. The Liberty Bell is displayed to the public in one of the neighboring pavilions.

In 1976, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, while on a visit to Philadelphia, presented a replica of the Century Bell, made by the same factory as the original bell, as a gift to the American people. Now it is installed on the bell tower near Independence Hall.

2. Historical events

2.1. Work of the Second Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence

From 1775 to 1783, Independence Hall was the main meeting place for the Second Continental Congress, composed of representatives from each of the thirteen colonies. The Declaration of Independence was approved here on July 4, 1776, and then read to the public in the square that is now known as Independence Square. This document united the colonies of North America and declared their independence from Great Britain. This event is celebrated on July 4 as Independence Day.

On June 14, 1775, at Independence Hall, delegates to the Continental Congress elected George Washington to command the Continental Army. On July 26, Benjamin Franklin was elected Postmaster General.

2.2. Signing of the US Constitution

Source: http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence Hall

One of the most famous buildings Philadelphia is undeniably located in the heart of the National historical park Independence Hall Independence. This is an important historical and architectural monument and one of Philadelphia's most popular attractions. Independence Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From 1775-1783, Independence Hall was the meeting place of the Second Continental Congress and it was here that the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776, uniting the colonies. North America who declared their independence from Great Britain. Once approved, the Declaration was solemnly read to the general public in the square in front of Independence Hall, which is today known as Independence Square. In 1787, Independence Hall was the venue for the so-called Philadelphia Convention, which resulted in the development and signing of the basic law of the new state - the US Constitution.

Independence Hall was commissioned by the Pnesylvania colonial legislature in 1732-1753. The design of the original Georgian structure, consisting of a central building with a bell tower and two side wings, was designed by Edmund Woolley and Andreu Hamilton. The original spire was destroyed in 1781, but a new, more complex one was designed by William Strickland and added in 1828. In the same period, the side wings were replaced with larger structures, but in 1898 they were demolished in order to restore the building to its original form. The interior was restored in the middle of the 20th century, and in 1973 a copy of the clock, created by the famous American watchmaker Thomas Stretch and decorating Independence Hall from 1753 to 1830, was installed on the building. The famous Liberty Bell, which once called the inhabitants of the city to the announcement of the Declaration of Independence, can now be seen in the Liberty Bell Center located next to Independence Hall.

Project author Edmund Woolley, Andrew Hamilton Builder Edmund Woolley Construction - years Status US National Historic Landmark Coordinates : 39°56′56″ s. sh. 75°09′00″ W d. /  39.94889° N sh. 75.15000°W d./ 39.94889; -75.15000(G) (I)

Construction history

On June 14, 1775, at Independence Hall, delegates to the Continental Congress elected George Washington to command the Continental Army. On July 26, Benjamin Franklin was elected United States Postmaster General.

Signing of the US Constitution

The US Constitution was ratified by delegates from 12 states. The thirteenth state of Rhode Island did not delegate a representative. George Washington was appointed chairman of the debate, which took place from May to September 1787. Despite the fact that his opinion carried enormous weight, Washington made only a minor contribution to the discussion regarding the US Constitution. Although the summer of 1787 was incredibly hot, all the windows of Independence Hall were closed so that no one could eavesdrop on the discussion of the constitution.

A draft constitution, including a preamble and seven articles, was submitted to all thirteen states. The document came into force after its ratification by representatives of 9 states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve the text of the constitution. After ratification, the constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789.

Other

The building of Independence Hall is well known all over the world - since 1928 it has been depicted on the reverse of the one hundred US dollar bill.

see also

Write a review on the article "Independence Hall"

Notes

Links

An excerpt characterizing Independence Hall At dawn on the 17th, a French officer was escorted from the outposts to Vishau, who arrived under a parliamentary flag, demanding a meeting with the Russian emperor. This officer was Savary. The emperor had just fallen asleep, and therefore Savary had to wait. At noon, he was admitted to the sovereign and an hour later went with Prince Dolgorukov to the outposts of the French army. As was heard, the purpose of sending Savary was to offer a meeting between Emperor Alexander and Napoleon. A personal meeting, to the joy and pride of the whole army, was refused, and instead of the sovereign, Prince Dolgorukov, the winner at Vishau, was sent along with Savary to negotiate with Napoleon, if these negotiations, contrary to expectations, were aimed at a real desire for peace. In the evening Dolgorukov returned, went straight to the sovereign and spent a long time alone with him. On November 18 and 19, the troops passed two more marches forward, and the enemy outposts retreated after short skirmishes. In the higher spheres of the army, from noon on the 19th, a strong, troublesomely excited movement began, which continued until the morning of the next day, November 20th, on which the so memorable Battle of Austerlitz was given. Until noon on the 19th, movement, lively conversations, running around, sending adjutants were limited to one main apartment of the emperors; in the afternoon of the same day, the movement was transferred to Kutuzov's main apartment and to the headquarters of the column commanders. In the evening, this movement spread through the adjutants to all ends and parts of the army, and on the night of 19 to 20, the 80,000-strong mass of the allied troops rose from their lodgings, buzzed with a voice and swayed, and set off with a huge nine-verst canvas. The concentrated movement that began in the morning in the main apartment of the emperors and gave impetus to all further movement was like the first movement of the middle wheel of a large tower clock. One wheel slowly moved, another, a third turned, and the wheels, blocks, gears began to spin faster and faster, the chimes began to play, figures jumped out, and the arrows began to move measuredly, showing the result of the movement. As in the mechanism of clocks, so in the mechanism of military affairs, the movement once given is just as unstoppable until the last result, and just as indifferently motionless, a moment before the transfer of movement, parts of the mechanism, to which the matter has not yet reached. The wheels whistle on the axles, clinging to the teeth, the rotating blocks hiss from the speed, and the neighboring wheel is just as calm and motionless, as if it is ready to stand this immobility for hundreds of years; but the moment came - he hooked the lever, and, obeying the movement, the wheel crackles, turning and merges into one action, the result and purpose of which are incomprehensible to him. Just as in a watch the result of the complex movement of countless different wheels and blocks is only the slow and even movement of the hand indicating the time, so is the result of all the complex human movements of these 1000 Russians and French - all passions, desires, remorse, humiliation, suffering, impulses of pride, fear , the delight of these people - there was only the loss of the battle of Austerlitz, the so-called battle of the three emperors, that is, the slow movement of the world historical arrow on the dial of the history of mankind. Prince Andrei was on duty that day and was inseparable from the commander in chief. At 6 o'clock in the evening Kutuzov arrived at the main apartment of the emperors and, having stayed with the sovereign for a short time, went to the Chief Marshal Count Tolstoy. Bolkonsky took advantage of this time to go to Dolgorukov to find out about the details of the case. Prince Andrei felt that Kutuzov was upset and dissatisfied with something, and that they were dissatisfied with him in the main apartment, and that all the faces of the imperial main apartment had with him the tone of people who knew something that others did not know; and therefore he wanted to talk to Dolgorukov. “Well, hello, mon cher,” said Dolgorukov, who was sitting with Bilibin at tea. - Holiday for tomorrow. What is your old man? not in the mood? “I won’t say that he was out of sorts, but he seems to want to be listened to. - Yes, they listened to him at the military council and will listen when he speaks the matter; but to hesitate and wait for something now, when Bonaparte fears most of all a general battle, is impossible. - Did you see him? - said Prince Andrew. - Well, what about Bonaparte? What impression did he make on you? “Yes, I saw and became convinced that he was afraid of a general battle more than anything in the world,” repeated Dolgorukov, apparently cherishing this general conclusion, drawn by him from his meeting with Napoleon. - If he were not afraid of battle, why would he demand this meeting, negotiate and, most importantly, retreat, while retreat is so contrary to his whole method of warfare? Believe me: he is afraid, afraid of a general battle, his hour has come. This is what I'm telling you. “But tell me, how is he?” Prince Andrew also asked. “He is a man in a gray frock coat, who really wanted me to say “your majesty” to him, but, to his chagrin, he did not receive any title from me. What a man he is, and nothing else,” answered Dolgorukov, looking round at Bilibin with a smile. “Despite my full respect for old Kutuzov,” he continued, “we would all be good, expecting something and thus giving him a chance to leave or deceive us, while now he is right in our hands. No, one should not forget Suvorov and his rules: do not put yourself in the position of being attacked, but attack yourself. Believe me, in war the energy of young people is often more likely to point the way than all the experience of the old kunktators.

Independence Hall (Eng. Independence Hall, lit. Independence Hall) - a building on Independence Square in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, known as the place where the Declaration of Independence was discussed, agreed upon and signed in 1776; the place where the US Constitution was signed. From 1775 to 1783 the building was used as the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress. Currently, the building is part of the US Historical Park, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Construction history

Designed in Georgian style by Edmund Woolley and Andrew Hamilton, the building was built by Woolley between 1732 and 1753. The building was originally intended for the government of Pennsylvania.

Independence Hall is built of red brick. highest point The building rises 41 meters above the ground. Two more buildings adjoin the building: the old city council building from the east and Congress Hall from the west.

Liberty Bell

The bell tower of Independence Hall was the site where the Liberty Bell was originally located. Currently, the bell tower houses the Centennial Bell, created in 1876 on the centenary of independence. The Liberty Bell is displayed to the public in one of the neighboring pavilions.

In 1976, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, while on a visit to Philadelphia, presented a replica of the Century Bell, made by the same factory as the original bell, as a gift to the American people. Now it is installed on the bell tower near Independence Hall.

Historical events
Work of the Second Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence
From 1775 to 1783, Independence Hall was the main meeting place for the Second Continental Congress, composed of representatives from each of the thirteen colonies. The Declaration of Independence was approved here on July 4, 1776, and then read to the public in the square that is now known as Independence Square. This document united the colonies of North America and declared their independence from Great Britain. This event is celebrated on July 4 as Independence Day.

On June 14, 1775, at Independence Hall, delegates to the Continental Congress elected George Washington to command the Continental Army. On July 26, Benjamin Franklin was elected Postmaster General.

Independence Hall - Independence Hall

Magnificent building located in historical center, in the territory . The building was erected in the mid-1700s and was intended to house the government of Pennsylvania. The project of Independence Hall was developed by one of the country's leading architects, the Englishman Edmund Willy. The building was made of the most common material in those years - American, ceramic brick, in the Georgian style and, at that time, amazed the inhabitants of the city with its height, more than 40 meters.

Independence Hall is the most famous, and one of the main, historical sights of the country, because it was in this place, in 1776, that the history of the United States of America began as an independent country.

The Independence Hall building is National Historical Monument USA and listed World Heritage UNESCO

An interesting historical detail is that in 1830, Independence Hall underwent a major renovation designed by the architect George Haviland, who gave the building a completely different and, according to the townspeople, unusual look. In 1876, Independence Hall was again subjected to a major rebuilding, during which the building was returned to its former, historical appearance, exactly the one that it has to this day.

Adjoining the Independence Hall building are two more old buildings that were erected later - this is the city council building (extension on the east side), and the Congress Hall building - (extension on the west side).

When visiting Philadelphia, be sure to take the time to tour Independence Hall with our representative -. During the tour, at the entrance you will see the statue of the first US President George Washington. After that, you will proceed inside, to the Assembly Hall, exactly the historic room in which the US Constitution was signed.

When I first approached the chair of the head of government, my feelings were akin to those experienced by a condemned man, ascending the scaffold

- George Washington

Although about 250 years have passed since the signing of the main law of the country, nothing has changed in the Assembly Hall, everything here looks exactly the same as on the day the document was signed - all the same tables covered with green cloth, real Windsor chairs on which fathers sat the founders of the country.

Here you can also see the chair of George Washington, on the back of which, by an ancient master, the sun is carved. On the table is a silver ink bottle, the same one that was used to sign the document.

Climbing up to the second floor of Independence Hall, you will find yourself in a corridor called the Long Gallery, which leads to other important rooms - the Governor's Council Chambe and the Committee of the Assembly Chamber - both rooms were used by important government bodies of the country .

Further, during the tour, guests are usually invited to watch the Liberty Bell, which informed the residents of Philadelphia with its ringing that from now on they live in an independent country, since the Declaration of Independence was signed by the Continental Congress. One of the most interesting stages of the tour of Independence Hall is usually the climb to the tower of the Hall, from the stained glass windows of which you can enjoy a stunning view of the entire Independence Square.

Independence Hall is a real historical door which is open to visitors 365 days a year. A visit to this place will reveal to you historical facts the birth of the statehood of the United States of America.