“Becoming American” tells the story of the nation’s founding through the lens of Philadelphia, America’s first capital. It explores how diverse groups that included European colonists, Native Americans, free Black communities and enslaved Africans lived and worked side-by-side to shape the new United States. The film weaves together the famous debates of the Founding Fathers with lesser-known human stories of working individuals and communities, at the same time placing America’s early growth in a global context, including the Haitian Revolution and its far-reaching consequences. Though focused on Philadelphia, the film presents a shared national and international history that explains how America came to be, how it expanded, and how its founding ideals continue to resonate today.
Airs and stream live on WXXI-TV on Wednesday, June 29th at 9pm
Watch the Trailer: