Final answer:
Philadelphia was initially thought to be a suitable location for the U.S. capital because it was where Congress met and the Declaration of Independence was signed. However, the capital was ultimately decided to be on the Potomac River due to a compromise related to debt assumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
Initially, some believed that the capital of the United States should be located in Philadelphia because it was where the Congress met and where the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia held significant historical importance as it was the site of the Constitutional Convention and held symbolic weight as the location where the Declaration was debated and adopted. The Declaration, a pivotal document articulating the American colonies' intent to separate from British rule, was first read to the Congress on July 4, 1776, and the signed copy is currently preserved in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Important figures such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who had significant roles in the drafting of the Declaration, were not present at the Constitutional Convention, with Jefferson in France and Adams in Europe. Nonetheless, the impact of the Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was crafted, was recognized nationally. Despite this, the decision was eventually made to locate the capital on the Potomac River as a result of a compromise involving the federal government's assumption of state debts.