Transcript ExplorePAHistory

By: Brianna Lee
General Information

 Pennsylvania, a middle colony, was one of the original 13
colonies in the United States
 Before European settlement, Pennsylvania consisted of
Native American inhabitants, the most known during
William Penn’s time there is Leni Lenape
 King Charles II of England named Pennsylvania after
Admiral Sir William Penn. But it wasn’t until a Welsh
member of England added Sylvania, meaning woods.
(Walther)
 Pennsylvania’s capital, Philadelphia, means “City of
Brotherly Love.” It was a reflection on the Quaker society
Motivations

 William Penn saw this land as an opportunity to establish
a colony of his own, mainly for his fellow Quakers. A
place to call their own, away from religious persecution.
Colonial Rule and Political
Structures

 “Penn had big plans for his colony– a government run on
Quaker principles of equality, cooperation, and religious
tolerance.” (Danzer, Gerald A. et al)
 William Markham, Penn’s cousin was assigned governor
in 1681. “Markham bore an affectionate letter from the
proprietor to the Swedes in which he said, "You shall be
governed by laws of your own making, and live a free,
and if you will, a sober, industrious people.“ “ (History of
the United States of America)
Land Division/Rights

 William Penn believed in being a pacifist. He and the
Quakers refused to serve in the military, and instead
embraced the opposition of war (Danzer, Gerald A. et al).
 Because of this, he decided to be on good terms with the
Native Americans. According to letters sent to Native
tribe leaders from Penn, with consent, he asked
permission to enjoy and love the land so that they may
always be neighbors and friends (ExplorePAHistory).
 William assured every adult male settler 50 acres of land
and the right to vote. His political plans for government
was a representative assembly that recognized freedom of
religion (Danzer, Gerald A. et al).
Types of Settlements

 The treaty in 1682 between the colonists and the Natives
were fairly treated. To assure friendly relations in order to
circumvent any issues, the Friends often regulated trade
(Danzer, Gerald A. et al).
Economic Activities

 William Penn faced similar challenges to the Dutch West Indies
colony. He wanted to recruit immigrants from Western Europe.
He used advertisements that were translated into Dutch, French
and German (Danzer, Gerald A. et al).
 He wanted to attract farmers, settlers, traders and builders
everywhere—to create a more profitable colony.
 Penn used emigration as a way to promote and induce
Europeans to come and settle in Pennsylvania. There was a deal
of 40 shillings for a hundred acres, and 5000 acres for a 100
pounds (Walther).
 As a famed colonist and eloquent leader, he never really
profited well financially as a proprietor, and rather died in
poverty, regardless of the colony’s success.
Labor Challenges

 Many of the European settlers in Pennsylvania consisted
of Germans that brought over experienced and skilled
crafters and farming techniques that would later help the
colony succeed (Danzer, Gerald A. et al).
 Although Penn’s belief was to be free, he enslaved
blacks. The original Quakers were said to not have any
qualms over it. The blacks were free, but also some
indentured servants.
 Colonial Pennsylvania was a slave-owning society, but it
also had its protests about the treatment of the blacks.
Some of the Quakers had their doubts of owning another
person (Harper).
Religious/Social Issues

 "All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship
Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences;
no man can of right be compelled to attend, erect, or support any
place of worship... against his consent.“- William Penn,
Declaration of Rights, 1682 (ExplorePAHistory).
 The Friends’, or Quakers in England were persecuted and
harassed. Penn’s philosophy on George Fox’s Quaker beliefs
were that God’s “inner light” burned inside everyone. That
everyone should be able to have a personal relationship with
God. The services they held in a typical Quaker meetinghouse
gave any person to speak as the spirit moved them.
 Penn’s “holy experiment” was the basis of religious freedom, it
would be the cornerstone of a new social order
(ExplorePAHistory).
Legacy's and Effects

 William Penn’s principles of cooperation, equality
and religious tolerance on which he founded
Pennsylvania, became the fundamental values of the
new American nation (Danzer, Gerald A. et al).
Citations

 Walther, Rudolph J. "Pennsylvania 1630-1700." ushitsory.org. Independence Hall
Association, 2010. Web. 7 Sept. 2010.
<http://www.ushistory.org/pennsylvania/pennsylvania.html>.
 "ExplorePAHistory.com - Stories from PA History." ExplorePAHistory. WITF, Inc., 2010.
Web. 7 Sept. 2010. <http://explorepahistory.com/story.php?storyId=3>.
 Danzer, Gerald A., et al. "Settlement of the Middle Colonies." The Americans. N.p.:
McDougal Littel, 2005. 55-59. Print.
 "History of the United States of America," by Henry William Elson, The MacMillan
Company, New York, 1904. Transcribed by Kathy Leigh.
 B., H. W., and Henry William Elson. "Pennsylvania." History of the United States of
America. 1904. New York: MacMilan Company, n.d. N. pag. History of the USA. Web. 9
Sept. 2010. <http://www.usahistory.info/colonies/Pennsylvania.html>.
 Harper, Douglas. "Slavery in Pennsylvania." Slavery in the North. N.p., 2003. Web. 9 Sept.
2010. <http://www.slavenorth.com/pennsylvania.htm>.