Philadelphia’s founding years were rife with conspiracy fears about ‘godless’ Freemasons and the Illuminati

In the early days of the United States, Philly was a hotbed of conspiracy theories as fears grew that secret societies sought to dismantle religion’s influence on society.

By: Derek Arnold, Villanova University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 6, 2026

Words: 1,706

Last Updated: 3 months, 3 weeks ago

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By Derek Arnold, Villanova University

How conspiracies spread has changed immensely over the history of the United States, as technology and media have evolved. But the nature of conspiracies has not.

I teach communications courses at Villanova University, 12 miles from Philadelphia, on how conspiracy theories are created and disseminated.

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, I have been thinking about the early history of Philadelphia …

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