Editing Bicentennial 1976 (section)

== Tensions and Critiques ==

The Bicentennial occurred during a troubled period in American history. Vietnam, Watergate, economic recession, and urban crisis had shaken national confidence. Critics questioned whether celebration was appropriate when so many problems remained unsolved. In Philadelphia specifically, the contrast between ceremonial celebration and everyday reality was stark. The city was in fiscal crisis. [[Frank Rizzo Era|Frank Rizzo]]'s controversial leadership polarized residents along racial lines. Neighborhoods continued to decline while resources went to Bicentennial preparations. Some residents felt that the celebration served tourists and downtown interests while neglecting the needs of ordinary Philadelphians.<ref name="nash"/>

African Americans and other critics pointed out that the Bicentennial celebrated a nation that had denied equality to many of its citizens. The Declaration of Independence's promise that "all men are created equal" had not extended to enslaved people in 1776, and racial inequality persisted two centuries later. Some groups organized alternative commemorations highlighting the gap between American ideals and American reality. The [[Civil Rights Movement in Philadelphia|civil rights movement's]] continuing struggles gave particular resonance to these critiques in a city where racial tensions remained acute. The Bicentennial could not escape the contradictions of American history.<ref name="weigley"/>