The Federal Parade of 1788

Francis Hopkinson, poet, judge, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, sure knew how to throw a party. In the incredible short space of four or five days, he put together the mother of all birthday bashes. And whose birth called for such massive festivities? Hopkinson, along with thousands of fellow Pennsylvanians, wanted to celebrate twin birthdays—the birth of the nation (it was July 4 after all) and their brand new federal government, the nation having recently ratified the freshly minted Constitution.