The American colonies were originally under an oppressive British rule and it was in response to Parliament's punitive Intolerable Acts that gathered colonial representatives in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress (1774) to draw up a Declaration of Rights and Grievances and an appeal to King George III. No concessions were forthcoming so the Second Continental Congress convened in 1775 to appoint George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental forces in the ensuing war with Britain which started with the battle at Bunker Hill. In 1776 ties are severed with Great Britain as America signs a Declaration of Independence on July 4. The declaration was mostly written by Thomas Jefferson (who became the third president in 1801), but supported by John Adams (who succeeded Washington as president in 1797).
In 1787 James Madison (who became the 4th president in 1809), writes the Articles of Confederation which set out the framework for a new government. In 1789 all states ratify the Constitution. George Washington is elected the first president. In 1791 Congress passes 10 amendments to the Constitution (the Bill of Rights).
Philadelphia was the nation's capital until 1800 when government moved to Washington DC.
The Bell (originally to commemorate the 50 year anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges which was Pennsylvania's original constitution and spoke of the rights and freedoms valued by people the world over), hung in the State House since 1753 and summoned the Pennsylvania Assembly to work. It was named the Liberty Bell in the 1830s by anti-slavery groups.
It was originally cast by Whitechapel Foundry in 1752 and recast by Pass and Stow a year later. It weighs 2080lbs (approx 940kgs). The 'crack' happened the first time it was rung due to the brittleness of the metal in the bell. It was recast to attempt to remedy this but it was never improved. The current wide crack is the result of trying to stop any further cracks.
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