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The Conversation USA

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

  • Written by Derek Arnold, Instructor in Communication, Villanova University
imageGeorge Washington was initiated into Freemasonry at the age of 20.Strobridge & Co. Lith./Library of Congress via AP

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...

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