Economics

Humans have been trying to predict the future since the beginning of time. From the ancient Greeks consulting the Oracle of Delphi to kings from the Shang Dynasty turning to oracle bones, people have tried to predict everything from the weather to success on the battlefield.In these initial forecasts people used their judgement and previous experiences to observe trends and patterns, which made their reliability difficult to assess and reproduce.

In 1776, America stood at a crossroads. This diverse set of stories illuminates Revolutionary Philadelphia and the emerging nation, including the stories of the daily lives of ordinary people as told by students, an exploration of early institutions and the economic forces shaping the era, and the cultural and intellectual landscape of the Revolution and its era.