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The Conversation
The Conversation
Derek Arnold, Instructor in Communication, Villanova University

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

George 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 from Philadelphia, on how conspiracy theories are created and disseminated.

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