The very first Republican convention took place in Philadelphia in 1856, when the GOP nominated John C. Fremont.

Philadelphia is host to the year 2000 Republican National Convention. This is appropriate, as Philadelphia to a great extent, is the home of the GOP. The first Republican Party Convention was held here in 1856 and this marks the 6th time Republicans have convened in Philadelphia. This year's convention is from July 31 to August 3, 2000. The GOP and Philadelphia tell a rich American story of triumph, defeat, heroes, politicians, and history.

Democrats and Independents shouldn't feel left out though. There have been three Democratic Conventions in Philadelphia, the last held in 1948.

The year 1948 is particularly special to Philadelphians. It was the hottest summer — both politically and weather-wise — that Philadelphia had experienced since the Constitutional Convention of 1787. In a stunning coup, the city captured both major-party conventions and the third-party convention of former vice president Henry A. Wallace's Progressive Party.

Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia while he was in the city serving as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

Philadelphia has long been a national convention site. In 1774, Carpenters' Hall was the site of the First Continental Congress. Twelve out of the thirteen colonies sent representatives to this meeting — the first time delegates from that many colonies had come together in one room.

It was there that the likes of Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams, and Sam Adams convened to discuss what America's relationship to the mother country, Great Britain was, and whether or not it was time to at least start thinking of an independent United Colonies.

John Adams thought the assembled minds would "surpass the wisdom of the Ancient Medes." Benjamin Franklin, who was in England as a colonial representative, let the delegates to the convention use his library which was conveniently located upstairs, in effect setting the stage for a Library of Congress.

Philadelphia's Carpenters' Hall, meeting place of First Continental Congress in 1774.

Franklin, a world wide web unto himself, would surely have appreciated the medium of the Internet. Information and the sharing of ideas were crucial to the man who "brought electricity from the heavens."

Patrick Henry's rousing speech early on set the tone. "Government is now dissolved. Where are your landmarks, your boundaries of colonies?…The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American." The delegates began to stop thinking of themselves as only representing individual colonies. They represented America. A spiritual and political notion of a United States had been conceived.

Nearly two years later and nearly two blocks west of Carpenters' Hall at the Pennsylvania State House — you know it today as Independence Hall — 56 delegates gathered in Congress "to mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, & our sacred Honor." For America had declared its independence from Great Britain.

Philadelphia, too, is the place where "We the People" was conceived during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. We hope you enjoy your time in the city where America was born. Thank you for continuing the legacy of participatory government.

1. On the Campaign Trail
   1. First Modern Election: 1896 -- GOP Victorious
   2. The Election of 1960: JFK Defeats Nixon
   3. "Morning in America": The Reagan Election
   4. 1992: A Baby Boomer in the White House
2. Philadelphia and the Presidency
   1. The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy
   2. Constitution Through Compromise
   3. The First Administration
   4. Philadelphia's Six GOP Conventions
3. Life in the White House
   1. The White House
   2. First Ladies
   3. It's Good to Be President
   4. A Day in the Life
4. The Media and Politics
   1. Newspapers in Politics
   2. Radio in Politics
   3. Television in Politics
   4. The Internet in Politics